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An administrative law judge on Thursday signed off on Minnesota’s plan to revamp state social studies standards in schools, including adding new language requiring 

 but called for changes to the wording around ethnic studies that he said suggested “that each student must eliminate a historical and contemporary injustice to satisfy the academic standard.”

After the Education Department provided clarifying language, Chief Administrative Law Judge Jenny Starr approved it Thursday, allowing the entire package to be adopted for use in schools.

Minnesota updates its social studies standards every 10 years. The newly approved guidelines have been under discussion since 2020. They include requirements that students study economics, geography, citizenship, government, ethnic studies and the unique status of tribal nations. 

The ethnic studies addition calls on students to analyze social identities of race, gender, religion, geography and ethnicity. It parallels a law passed last year that requires schools offer ethnic studies classes to students by 2026. 

Minnesota schools will soon require ethnic studies. Here’s what that might look like

Father and daughter work to make sure all stories are told

The new language in the ethnic studies component drew scrutiny from a conservative group that questioned the value and approach of what would be required statewide public school standards.

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The judge’s decision gives the go-ahead to implement reworked standards for students in economics, geography, citizenship, government, ethnic studies and the unique status of tribal nations.

A teacher at a whiteboard in front of a room of students

New Minnesota social studies standards, including ethnic studies, get judge's final OK

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