Author: Sarah Cooke

Educators are wishing Mary Cathryn Ricker, a nationally board certified teacher, success in her next endeavor after she announced Tuesday that she will resign as the state’s education commissioner effective April 1. 

The state budget forecast released Friday predicts a $1.6 billion surplus in the next budget cycle, even as unemployment soars for low-wage workers and amid news reports that demand at food shelves in Minnesota has reached record levels. 

The public schools of Minnesota will not be able to offer the same quality of education to its students next fall if the state Legislature fails to approve additional funding to compensate for students that parents held back or transferred out during the pandemic, said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota. 

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. 

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.  

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 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.