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.

Biden promotes 'life-changing' student loan relief in Wisconsin as he rallies younger voters
President Joe Biden says student loan relief will empower Americans to pursue their dreams without the burden of debt. He visited Wisconsin on Monday to announce new steps to help more than 30 million people. 
Minnesota’s new cannabis classes drawing a different kind of student
Minnesota’s move last year to legalize cannabis is cultivating a new market for education. Three public colleges offer noncredit classes now and they’re seeing a mix of retirees, career changers and other nontraditional students looking to take their lives in a new direction.
St. Olaf election project drives turnout, primes students for more productive political conversations
St. Olaf College in Northfield has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country. In 2020, nearly 90 percent of eligible Oles cast a ballot. Getting out the vote is a big part of the school’s civic engagement work. But equally important is an effort to train students on better ways to discuss politics with people they disagree with.
New center aims to help people with an intellectual disability get college degrees in Minnesota
Fewer than 3 percent of students with an intellectual disability in Minnesota attend college, according to the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium. Advocates are working to change those numbers.
St. Paul’s Cherise Ayers on returning to lead Central High School
What’s it like to go to a high school and then come back years later to lead it? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Cherise Ayers, the principal of St. Paul’s renowned Central High School, about her vision for her alma mater.
Mankato Mavericks celebrate national titles for both men’s and women’s basketball
Mankato State became the first Division II program in 40 years to win both the men’s and women’s basketball championships in the same season.
Inside the classroom: Early-career teachers and paraprofessionals
MPR News host Angela Davis talks to teachers who are just starting their careers. What does teaching a classroom look like today? What’s changed from years ago? What’s still the same?