St. Paul Reporter

Today, the Minnesota Department of Education released new data showing a continued decline in student academic performance across the state. According to the report, only 49.6 percent of students are proficient in reading and 45.2 percent are proficient in math. Since 2019, reading proficiency has dropped by 16 percent and math proficiency by 17 percent.

State legislators expressed concern over these results. Rep. Peggy Bennett, Chair of the Education Policy Committee, stated: “We must refocus our schools on core academics, like reading and math, along with common sense discipline policies that give educators the tools they need to create a productive learning environment for students to learn.”

Rep. Ron Kresha, Chair of the Education Finance Committee, commented: “These numbers should be a wake-up call. If we continue on this path, Minnesota will face a future where too many of our young people are unprepared for higher education or the workforce. Parents, teachers, and students deserve real solutions, not more excuses.”

The report indicates that less than half of Minnesota’s students are meeting grade-level expectations in key subjects as concerns about educational outcomes continue.