Academic Excellence is part of the department's mission and includes Minnesota's K-12 academic standards in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and the arts; School Choice programs including Charter Schools, Online Learning, Alternative Learning Centers; and the Office of Indian Education. Programs focus on increasing student achievement at all grade levels and providing resources for teachers and families to help students reach their highest potential as they prepare for postsecondary training and a career.
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics is now officially in rule. The standards, revised in 2007 and put into rule September 22, 2008, can be downloaded on this site's Mathematics page , along with a frequently-asked questions document that serves as a helpful guide to the standards.
Built by the U.S. Department of Education, in collaboration with students, the site is a great go-to source for information and resources about planning, preparing and paying for postsecondary education (such as 2- or 4-year colleges and universities, and vocational or career schools). Most importantly, college.gov is intended to provide inspiration and hope to all students, and encourage them to consider and pursue a postsecondary education. Visit college.gov -- they're interested in your feedback on the new site.
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), Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and Concurrent Enrollment–and is designed to increase awareness and help students make the most of high school opportunities that best meet his or her academic goals and career plans. Download the brochure .
The Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education recently released data showing a more than six percent increase in the number of Minnesota students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests. The data also shows a nearly eight percent increase in the number of students scoring a “3” or higher on their exams, which is the cut score used by most colleges to award college credit to new entering students. Read news release .
Year one of the three-year Dropout Prevention, Retention and Graduation Initiative has passed. Our goal is to increase graduation rates and decrease high school dropout rates, especially among students of color, American Indian and low-income students. The seven districts in the program (Brooklyn Center, Duluth, Hibbing, Park Rapids, Red Lake, Richfield and St. Paul) began the process 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- and high-school level, and information was disaggregated by student groups.
Each district conducted a needs assessment that included student, staff and parent perceptions, then submitted a detailed report that was reviewed by their MDE district liaison. The next phase of the planning process includes selecting and implementing programs and approaches that reflect the strategies they have learned. E-mail Cammy.Lehr@state.mn.us or call 651-582-8309 for more information on this program.
MDE E-mail Updates