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.

The state's teachers union says the lack of a contract deadline has left more than half of Minnesota school districts without a contract.
A short overview of the current Sviggum-Regents affair
I’ve got calls in to see where we go from here with the University of Minnesota’s review of whether  regent Steve Sviggum’s two jobs conflict with each other. For now, though, here’s a quick roundup of how things stand: Less than a year after being told his regent’s job was not compatible with a position…
Here’s what University of Minnesota regent Steve Sviggum told Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer about how he’d react if the Board of Regents finds a potential conflict of interest between his regent’s position and new job as Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus spokesman. (And he sounded pretty adamant): Wurzer: If the board comes back and says look…
The Star Tribune in its Hot Dish Politics blog has a short item regarding a Minnesota Legislative Auditor’s report showing that Metropolitan State University has been charging too much in fees and tuition while paying some faculty less than it should have.  Items it cites: For example, undergraduate students were charged a dollar more for online internet courses than…
Two bright spots that MnSCU sees in its credit-transfer system
After discussion of his organization’s report to the state legislature on credit transfers during yesterday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Chancellor Steven Rosenstone said he saw some bright spots. Referring to data showing that transfers among various MnSCU schools had risen from about 15,260 in 2008 to 20,300 last year, Rosenstone…
Regents Chairwoman Cohen's official stance on the Sviggum case
Just for the record, here’s University of Minnesota Regents Chairwoman Linda Cohen’s official statement, as released by the U: “Steve Sviggum has a long and distinguished record of public service in the Legislature. The announcement that he has been appointed to a senior staff position with the majority caucus in the Minnesota Senate reflects his desire…
Here’s what University of Minnesota regent Steve Sviggum told me yesterday about a university committee’s decision last year to not allow him to be both a regent and a Humphrey School of Public Affairs fellow: “I think it was wrong. I think if you would have pressed it, there was no prohibition to being a…
Programs help foster youth achieve college success A growing number of colleges and universities are offering more services to students who grew up in foster care. (USA Today) Population of needy college students is exploding There is a group of students who enter college with such dire financial need that the amount the federal government expects their…
University of Minnesota, Crookston Chancellor Charles Casey will retire at the end of the school year.
Just how well will University of Minnesota regent Steve Sviggum represent the U now that the former state legislator has accepted a job as spokesman for the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus?