Academic Excellence is part of the department's mission and includes: Minnesota's academic standards in Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and the Arts; School Choice including Charter Schools, Online Learning, Alternative Learning Centers; and Indian Education .
Students attending college in Minnesota this fall may be eligible to receive a $1,200 Achieve Scholarship if they took rigorous high school courses. The Achieve Scholarship was established and funded in 2007 by the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Pawlenty and is designed to encourage students to make the most of their high school opportunities by challenging themselves with rigorous high school courses. Read news release .
A new informational and planning resource was developed by the Minnesota Department of Education for distribution to students via school districts and counseling offices throughout the state. The piece describes Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Career and Technical Education Programs, The College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Post Secondary Enrollment (PSEO) and Concurrent Enrollment options– and is designed to increase awareness and assist students to make the most of high school opportunities that best meet his/her academic goals and career plans. Download the brochure .
The Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education released 2007 data showing a nearly 17 percent increase in the number of Minnesota students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests. The data also shows a 13 percent increase in the number of public school students scoring a “3” or higher on their exams. Read news release .
With a goal to increase graduation rates and decrease the dropout rate in schools and among students of color, American Indian students and low-income students -- year one of our three year initiative has passed. Read on for a progress update and highlights of the process that our seven districts, Brooklyn Center, Duluth, Hibbing, Park Rapids, Red Lake, Richfield, and St. Paul, began last year by:
Next, the local teams gathered data relevant to dropout prevention, as well as additional data linked to risk such as disciplinary referrals, suspensions, or percentages of students failing classes. Each team was required to gather data at the middle school and high school level, and information was disaggregated by student groups.
Each district conducted a needs assessment that included assessing student, staff and/or parent perceptions submitted detailed reports that were reviewed by the MDE Liaison for the district. The next phase of the planning process includes selecting and implementing programs and approaches that reflect the ten strategies. If you'd like to know more, contact Cammy.Lehr@state.mn.us or 651-582-8309.
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