Brainerd, Minnesota — On Monday, state Representative Kathy Brynaert (DFL – Mankato) received the Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Rural Education Association at their Annual Conference, held this year in Brainerd. Rep. Brynaert received the award for her work in improving student assessment.
Rep. Brynaert was the chief author of provisions in the Education budget to completely reform the student testing and assessment system from the GRAD test with minimum standards to one based on a suite of assessments, including a college placement diagnostic exam, nationally-normed college entrance exam, and long-term measurements of student college- and career-readiness and options.
Beginning in Grade 8, college- and career-readiness assessment will include analysis of appropriate career and college trajectories, student performance on state standards and meeting the student's individual trajectory benchmarks, and targeted interventions through curriculum or instruction adjustments. Students in Grades 3 through 7 will take computer-adaptive assessments, which will also reveal a trajectory toward career and college readiness.
“I accept this award from the Minnesota Rural Education Association on behalf of all the educators and assessment coordinators who have worked with the legislature for this result.” said Rep. Brynaert. “We worked together to return assessment to its proper rule of supporting teaching and learning rather than functioning as a barrier to students’ hopes and dreams.
“The new system starts early with an emphasis on helping students with targeted remediations and ensuring they are career- and college-ready. And it works toward better alignment and coordination between K-12 and post secondary education. I’m honored to have worked with such a dedicated group of professionals toward these critical goals. It is our students and their futures that are the beneficiaries of this success.”
“Rep. Brynaert addressed a significant state-wide problem, without a direct self-interest, and assembled a coalition of legislators to pass significant legislation that changes and improves the direction and outcomes of education for Minnesota,” added Dr. Fred Nolan, Executive Director of the Minnesota Rural Education Association. “Her resulting successful legislation moves Minnesota to a system of assessments that looks forward to where a student is going and efficiently utilizes students’ time and system resources. This has resulted in one of the most significant policy changes in the direction of Minnesota K-12 education in over a decade.”
Rep. Brynaert encourages constituents to contact her with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Rep. Brynaert can be reached by phone at 651-296-3248 or by email at rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn.