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.

Outdoor School program gets kids out of classrooms and into the wild for learning, healing
A new grant program approved by state legislators last year is helping more Minnesota students get out of the classroom and into the wild to study science and nature up close and in person. For one group of kids from a St. Paul Spanish immersion school, the trip to the outdoors couldn’t have come at a better time.
Duluth engineering professor’s fabric recycler keeps old clothes out of landfills
University of Minnesota Duluth engineering professor Abbie Clarke-Sather’s “fiber shredder” breaks clothing down into reusable threads in 90 seconds. The machine may help recycle clothing and keep it out of landfills.
Minneapolis' North High School turns the corner on graduation rates
North High School’s Class of 2026 will cross the stage on Friday. They’re on track to meet or even exceed state graduation averages, only three years after lagging 20 points behind.
The role of a liberal arts education in a changing world
Tuition prices, student debt and changing workforce needs are raising questions about what students should get out of education after high school. MPR News guest host Annie Baxter talks with guests about the future of liberal arts and higher education.
School workers pass first goal post toward health insurance reform in final day of legislative session
On the last day of the Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session, lawmakers voted to fund a data collection project to study the spiraling health insurance costs for Minnesota school districts – a first step in reforming the health insurance program for school district employees as a whole.
Nationwide report shows economic, racial achievement gaps persist in Minneapolis schools
New scorecards are out for school districts across the country. Known as the Education Scorecard, the results in Minneapolis Public Schools show large achievement gaps across race and class.