House DFL Leader Thissen statement on Graduation Rates

St. Paul, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota Department of Education announced the state has made improvements in graduation rates for students of color. In Minneapolis, graduation rates increased by over 5 percent for the second year in a row, making gains across all racial/ethnic groups.

House DFL Leader Paul Thissen released the following statement:

“I congratulate teachers, parents, and students for all their hard work over the past year to improve graduation rates for all students, and especially students of color, in Minnesota. Narrowing the opportunity gap is good news for our state’s future, and it’s even better news for each individual who now has a high school diploma and a better chance at opportunity and success.

Of course, we know our work is far from finished. It remains unacceptable when less than 2/3 of students are graduating. We must build on the ongoing work in Minneapolis and St. Paul to get more teachers of color into the classroom. Making sure that a robust Teacher Development and Evaluation effort is funded and supported is critical. We must address the discipline gap where kids - and especially boys of color - disproportionately face suspension and other discipline. And we must make further investments in community-based partnerships like the Northside Achievement Zone and full-service community schools that support the whole family and community in making sure kids have a better chance at success.

Let the progress we’ve made over the past year motivate us to work even harder in the year to come to close the unacceptable achievement gap that still exists in our state.”