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.

Sparked by pandemic fallout, homeschooling surges across U.S.
Some U.S. parents say they're planning to continue to homeschool their children, even as schools resume in-person classes. The U.S. Census Bureau says the rate of households homeschooling their children rose to 11 percent by September 2020, doubling from 5.4 percent six months earlier.
MSU Mankato takes video gaming to the next level
When COVID-19 took traditional contact sports off the table, it led to a huge boost in another form of competition: video gaming. A program at Minnesota State University, Mankato helps students learn about the ever-evolving world of esports — and some are taking the leap into cyber sports.
What do Alabama and California have in common? Top-notch U.S. history standards
State history standards can give educators a roadmap through the uncomfortable facts of U.S. history. In the current debate over critical race theory, they can also offer political cover.
A federal probe into Indian boarding school gravesites seeks to bring healing
"To address the intergenerational impact of Indian boarding schools and to promote spiritual and emotional healing in our communities, we must shed light on the unspoken traumas of the past," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. "No matter how hard it will be."
CDC updates guidelines to protect kids from COVID in school. Plus: Vacation tips
The updated guidance promotes vaccination for those old enough and says vaccinated children may not need masks. What about kids too young for vaccines? And as summer begins, what about vacation risks?
As a child, he looked to Obama for proof he could be president. Now he's the U's first Somali American student-body president
Abdulaziz Mohamed hopes to use his experiences growing up as Black and Muslim in the predominantly white Stillwater area to better serve all students — especially those who often get left behind.
As demand for vaccines decline, public health shifts focus to small, targeted clinics
Just a few months ago, the state was launching massive COVID-19 vaccine clinics for anyone who was eligible. But now public health officials are focusing on clinics that are small and targeted to specific, sometimes hard-to-reach populations.