Minnesota Students Are Falling Behind
Recently released test scores show that Minnesota’s students are not doing well. After all the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's clear that our kids are falling behind science, math, and reading. The latest results from the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS), show some worrisome trends.
In the world of science, things aren't looking too bright. Just 39.2 percent of students who tackled the science assessments in 2023 managed to meet or beat the grade-level standards. This is a drop of 2.1 percentage points from the previous year. It's like a red flag waving, telling us that students, families, and educators are still reeling from the pandemic's disruptions.
Reading and math scores don't look much better. Only 49.9 percent of students who took the reading MCA and MTAS made the grade, a 1.2 percentage point dip from the previous year. Math scores only inched up by 0.7 percentage points from 2022, with 45.5 percent of students meeting or beating the grade-level standards.
Republicans have been taking a proactive stance in championing students' education, emphasizing school choice as a vital option for parents and students. In contrast, Democrats continue to believe throwing money at the teacher’s union is the only solution. The problem is that we already spend 40% of our entire state’s budget on education. If the problem was a matter of funding, how come our students are still falling behind? How much more of our budget do we need to sacrifice before it becomes even more obvious that the problem is something else entirely?
As we go through the challenges facing our education system, it's crucial to consider the importance of empowering parents with choices that best suit their children's needs and aspirations.
Education should be about what's best for students, regardless of their ZIP code or economic background.
One of the clearest signs of educational upheaval is the drop in school attendance. The Department of Education tracks "consistent attendance," which means students attending school at least 90 percent of the time. During the 2021-2022 school year, only 69.8 percent of students met this attendance target. Before the pandemic, about 85 percent of students managed this.
So, what does this mean for Minnesota's education? It's a wake-up call. Our students, our schools, and our families need our support now more than ever. It's time to think about solutions, and school of choice might just be a better answer when public schools aren't making the grade.