Education headlines
Daily news stories
Stories from media sources around the state, updated Monday through Friday:
Friday, Sept. 19, 2025
Star Tribune
Robbinsdale school closures loom as district confronts financial crisis
By January, administrators must submit a state-required debt plan, forcing tough and rapid decisions about school closures and consolidations. But those choices will require a sign-off from a school board plagued with dysfunction.
Feds reject Rochester Public Schools’ appeal for mental health grant, citing DEI
The U.S. Department of Education has rejected Rochester Public Schools’ appeal to reinstate a $1.9 million grant to train social workers, despite the district’s pledge not to consider race when selecting candidates.
Fox9
Parents weigh in as Minnesota’s Universal Free Meal Program turns 2
In all, the program has served more than 302 million meals since it launched in 2023, saving families an average of $1,000 per student a year.
MPR News
Despite appeal, Rochester schools’ $1.9 million federal mental health grant denied
The School Based Mental Health Scholars program provided grants to cover tuition for Rochester Public Schools faculty and staff to take classes and earn degrees in social work through Winona State University.
U.S. Education Dept. unites conservative groups to create ‘patriotic’ civics content
Called the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, the project will be overseen by the Education Department and led by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a nonprofit conservative group. It includes Turning Point USA, the Heritage Foundation, Hillsdale College and other conservative state and national organizations.
