Education News

MPR News keeps track of the latest education news in Minnesota so you can understand the events shaping the future of learning and how it impacts students at any level.

Stay informed about local education events, policies and more happening in schools and colleges across Minnesota.

University of Minnesota students redesign walker for younger users
Four University of Minnesota students have come up with a new way for people to move around. They took the wheeled walker that many seniors use and reimagined it for a younger clientele.
5 things to know about St. Paul’s plan to close five schools
The St. Paul school district is planning to close five of its school buildings — Highwood Hills Elementary, John A. Johnson Achievement Plus, Jackson Elementary, LEAP High School and Wellstone Elementary — and change 10 of its school programs as enrollment declines.
NPR poll: The delta surge pushed Americans further behind in all walks of life
Many families are under financial stress, parents see kids seriously behind in school, huge rent bills and looming evictions and delayed medical care has negative consequences, to name a few.
For kids in school, COVID-19 testing can be elusive
Minnesota schools can tap $70 million in federal funding this fall to launch their own testing programs. But testing availability depends a lot on where students live and how much extra work schools can take on.
Headaches for parents as seasonal illness collides with COVID-19
A fourth wave of COVID-19 infections is surging with the start of the school year — and for some kids, a host of other respiratory illnesses that mimic COVID-19 are also in the mix. The confusing array of symptoms and viruses are creating logistical challenges for families.
Minnesota to expand COVID-19 testing options in schools
The state is making rapid at-home tests available to districts that request them. It’s also handing out grant money to districts that want to hire additional staff or need other help with the logistics of regular testing in schools. 
In St. Cloud, students seize chance to hone native Somali language skills
School officials say research shows multilingual students are more likely to be academically successful in all areas when they have opportunities to continue developing their first language.
Flush with COVID-19 aid, schools steer funding to sports
A growing number of school districts in the U.S. are using federal pandemic funding on athletics projects. One school district in Iowa is spending $100,000 on a weight room renovation, while another in Wisconsin is spending $1.6 million on new synthetic turf fields.