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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Sondra Erickson (R)

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RELEASE: House Republican Education Leads Call for Statewide Progress Report on Academic Achievement During Pandemic

Monday, November 23, 2020

ST. PAUL, MN— House GOP Education Leads Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, and Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, are requesting that the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) provide a statewide status report on student academic achievement. The request comes after a report from KARE 11 revealed that, with the first quarter of the school year almost complete, nearly 40% of grades for high school students in the St. Paul Public School District are failing.

“This news from the St. Paul Public School District illustrates the significant damage COVID-19 restrictions and school closures are having on Minnesota students,” said Rep. Sondra Erickson. “Sadly, it appears that the academic trajectory of an entire generation of students will be stunted because of disruptions caused by the pandemic. Now, more than ever, we need to come to a full understanding of the harm being done to students so that we can try and change course before it is too late.”

"This information is essential so that we can see how students are being impacted," said Rep. Ron Kresha. "These students are the future, and we need to make sure that we are not failing them. We need to know the full scope of how distance and hybrid learning are impacting achievement as soon as possible so we can change tactics as needed and help our students succeed in spite of this current crisis."

Erickson and Kresha are asking MDE to compile data to demonstrate the impact hybrid and distance learning models are having on academic achievement in hopes of tailoring state policy to better respond to the educational needs of students. 

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