Author: Sarah Cooke

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Wednesday encouraged the remaining Minnesota school districts that don’t currently offer in-person learning, or don’t have plans to do so soon, to create a safe learning plan and open their doors to E-12 students by March 8. 

A federal judge on Friday rejected claims by three teachers that Education Minnesota must pay refunds and damages for collecting “fair-share” fees for the 40 years before June 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the practice was unconstitutional. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released on Friday an operational strategy guide for E-12 schools to help communities deliver safe in-person instruction.  

The 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be chosen from a field of 75 candidates. These candidates have accepted their nominations and completed the required materials to become eligible for the honor.

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan pledged Tuesday to spend the money necessary to help students catch up from COVID-19 disruptions and transform public education so Minnesota schools will better serve the needs of all students, no matter where they live or what they look like. 

Education Minnesota applauds Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to start vaccinating educators and open community vaccination sites around the state.

The sweeping education plan presented Monday by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan represents a large step forward on three of the biggest challenges facing public education, including recovering from the pandemic, chronic underfunding and persistent racial gaps, Education Minnesota President Denise Specht said. 

Loosening restrictions on activities associated with community spread of COVID-19, as the governor did Wednesday, could jeopardize the planned reopening of elementary school buildings starting Jan. 18, warned Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota.