April 28, 1997 - High school classes are scheduled to resume this morning (Monday) in Ada, where students were displaced by floodwaters for three weeks. School officials must demolish the Ada-Borup high school due to severe water damage. The Department of Children, Families and Learning says 20 Minnesota school districts closed at least one day due to flooding. East Grand Forks was forced to end the school more than a month early. Hundreds of students, teachers and administrators are working to reclaim their waterlogged schools and get back in business. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Seventh through 12th grade students in Ada will finish their schoo
April 28, 1997 - Clean up along the Red River in Minnesota and North Dakota is just beginning...but some government representatives are already busy looking at the long-term policy questions raised the floods. State officials say they'll need new ideas to pay for Minnesota's costliest natural disaster. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... At its daily briefing on flood news, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's office of Emergency Management reported the Red River was cresting lower than expected at Saint Vincent, the last stop on the river's nothern flow into Canada. With the dikes in Saint Vincent holding, and the water levels dropping in East Grand Forks, state officials say they've had a few
April 22, 1997 - Some Minneapolis school district residents say they think the school board should resign for failing to improve student test scores. African American parents and community leaders today criticized board members and district administrators for the recent poor performance in statewide tests, especially among minority students. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The Minneapolis school board was scheduled to discuss plans for improving student achievement in the coming school year. But members of the African American community came to get answer about this year. Results of this year's basic skills tests in Minneapolis show about one third of all studen
April 21, 1997 - President Clinton wants all children reading by third grade. His two-point-75 billion dollar "America Reads" proposal would place one-million tutors, including thousands of college students, in elementary classrooms throughout the nation. Minnesota colleges are making plans to get their students involved in the project. These volunteer tutors face a tough assignment helping children reach their proper reading level. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... 5604 (Sound of readers) In the library at Richard R. Green Central Park Elementary school
April 15, 1997 - The Saint Paul school board and teachers union host a reception this afternoon to honor the district's 28 teachers who've earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Saint Paul leads the nation in board certified teachers. With a growing trend toward increased standards in education, many experienced teachers are going through the rigorous evaluation to gain professional recognition and possibly more money. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards began in 1987 as a way to increase teacher professionalism, upgrade learning environments and improve teacher training. Educators, government officials and business lead
April 9, 1997 - D-F-L leaders in the Minnesota House have unveiled their plan for improving public education in Minnesota...but education tax credits are not included. House Speaker Phil Carruthers and members of the House Education Committee say they're committed to working with Governor Carlson on education reform. But their plan omits the specific provision Carlson says he's prepared to fight for. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... House D-F-Lers say their "Excellence for All" proposal would create greater standards of accountability for schools and students. They reject the Republican Governor's proposed tax credits in favor of spending more on pu
April 8, 1997 - Governor Carlson says his proposed education tax credits will enhance, not harm, public education. Carlson spoke to hundreds of school choice advocates today at state capitol rally. The controversial plan would help Minnesota families supplement their children's education in public, private and home schools. Carlson has been turning up the heat on the legislature to pass the plan he says builds on a tradition of expanding choice. Opponents say they object to any attempt to shift public funds to private schools, which are not accoutable to state taxpayers. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... "Minnesotans for School Choice," invited one thousand private school.
March 21, 1997 - School district officials from throughout the nation will be in Minneapolis next week to recruit Minnesota college students for teaching jobs. Students attending the Minnesota Education Career Fair will find they are much in demand. U-S Secretary of Education Richard Riley recently warned of a nationwide shortage of teachers. Minnesota has traditionally had a surplus of teachers, but some teaching skills are in especially high demand. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Saint Paul needs teachers...a lot of them. The district, which has a record number of vacancies this spring, has hired about 300 teachers each of the past four years to keep pace with rising enrollment and normal teacher
March 19, 1997 - State education officials say the state's eighth-grade students did slightly better in the second year of the basic skills reading test...but test scores stayed the same in math. Nearly a third of the students who took the tests for the first time last year failed. The Department of Children Families and Learning released the latest test scores this morning. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The basic skills tests represent part of the state's first effort to impose minimum high school graduation standards. The tests help determine if students are on track for graduation. This is the second year students h
March 19, 1997 - State education officials say the state's eighth-grade students did slightly better in the second year of the basic skills reading test...but test scores stayed the same in math. Nearly a third of the students who took the tests for the first time last year failed. The Department of Children Families and Learning released the latest test scores today, and like last year they show nearly a third of the students are not meeting the minimum standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The basic skills tests are the first phase of the state's new minimum high school graduation standards. The tests help determine if students are on track for graduation. This is the second year students have taken th