Story archive for
Tim Pugmire
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| Date |
Title |
Description |
| 05/04/2001 |
Miles - and Millions - Apart |
The Minnesota House and Senate have approved K-12 education bills that are about $100 million apart on new spending, but both offer considerably more than Gov. Ventura's budget. |
| 04/18/2001 |
Test Scores Level Off |
After years of steady annual gains, scores on the state's Basic Standards Tests are leveling off. Results of this year's tests show the number of eighth graders passing the reading and math exams is about the same as last year. |
| 04/03/2001 |
Education Funding Debate: Is 'Fuzzy Math' Involved? |
After increasing education spending by more than $1 billion two years ago, Gov. Ventura says it's now time to hold the line. Educators say they need more money to prevent budget cuts and layoffs. As legislators craft their own education budget, there's still an argument over which numbers to believe. |
| 03/06/2001 |
A Pattern of Success |
Gov. Ventura wants to double the current funding targeted to American Indian students in an attempt to lower one of the state's highest dropout rates. A state program has already shown its value. |
| 02/23/2001 |
Lawmakers Consider Restoring Board of Education |
The Minnesota Legislature voted three years ago to abolish the state Board of Education, but now some lawmakers are trying to reverse that decision.At least two bills have been introduced this session to resurrect the board. |
| 12/27/2000 |
Session 2001: Education |
Lawmakers will tackle proposals on classroom funding, alternative pay systems for teachers and school accountability. They could also end up going back to the drawing board on the Profile of Learning graduation standards. |
| 12/20/2000 |
State Considers Takeover of 'Lagging Schools' |
State education officials say 56 Minnesota elementary schools are performing below expectations on state tests and need to make improvements. The state's education commissioner says the list is the foundation on which she wants to build a statewide school-accountability system, which could ultimately include a state takeover of failing schools. |
| 11/08/2000 |
Voters Give More Money to Schools |
Saint Paul public schools will gain an additional $105 million over the next five years. Voters in the state's second-largest school district approved their first-ever excess tax levy referendum by a margin of 57 to 43 percent. In Minneapolis, voters overwhelmingly renewed a school district levy for another 10 years. |
| 09/04/2000 |
The Catholic Revival |
It's been 30 years since a Catholic school opened in the Twin Cities. This year, four are opening. What's the reason for the popularity of parochial schools? |
| 08/28/2000 |
Minnesotans Have Mixed Feelings About Education |
Minnesota voters say education is the most important issue facing the state, but they generally feel public schools are already on the right track. Results of a new Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-TV poll also show mixed feelings about statewide testing and graduation standards. |
| 08/24/2000 |
Statewide Testing Delay Worries Some Administrators |
State education officials have delayed the scheduled launch of three new school tests by at least a year. The decision comes in the wake of a test-scoring fiasco that affected 47,000 Minnesota students. The Department of Children, Families and Learning says it needs more time to strengthen quality control for existing tests before adding more. But some educators are concerned about the delay's impact on some students. |
| 08/22/2000 |
MnSCU Still Struggling |
A report from the Legislative Auditor's Office says the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is still struggling to succeed and needs better defined roles for its leaders. The evaluation of the five-year-old merger of three higher education systems comes as the system's board is searching for a new chancellor. Legislators say the report will likely generate a lot of discussion about higher education issues in next year's session. |
| 07/28/2000 |
Failing the Students |
State education officials say a private company's mistakes have resulted in 47,000 inaccurate scores on the Basic Standards Test in mathematics. Thousands of Minnesota students who were told they failed actually passed, and some seniors were wrongly denied their diplomas. |
| 07/26/2000 |
Troubled Tots |
For the past ten years, a St. Paul social services agency has operated a preschool program for children traumatized by abuse or family instability. Agency officials say these economically deprived children are too troubled to enroll in Head Start or other programs. This early intervention effort tries to prevent later academic and social problems in school. And the demand is far greater than what the program can accommodate. |
| 05/31/2000 |
Revised Profile Law Has School Officials Scrambling |
The bill allows educators to decide, on a school-by-school basis, whether to temporarily alter the number of state-required content standards in the show-what-you-know system. Education organizations have learned those votes are not optional and are now scrambling to make preparations. |
| 05/18/2000 |
Session 2000: A Better Profile? |
As Lawmakers ended the session by modifying the two-year-old system of demonstrated learning. Some educators are applauding the changes, while others say it's not enough to ease their frustrations or end the political uncertainty. |
| 05/11/2000 |
In the Light of Day |
Legislative leaders' last-minute rush early Wednesday morning to craft a compromise on changes to the Profile of Learning graduations standards may have resulted in some unintended concessions. |
| 05/10/2000 |
Session 2000: The Profile of Learning Agreement |
House and Senate leaders worked through the night trying to resolve their differences over the Profile of Learning and finally reached a deal less than an hour before their deadline to adjourn. |
| 04/26/2000 |
Basic Test Scores Improve in Minnesota |
Minnesota school districts continue to show gains on the state basic-standards tests. |
| 04/20/2000 |
The Lessons of School Violence |
Several Minnesota schools are marking this week's anniversary of the tragedy at Colorado's Columbine High School. Some local schools are taking extra steps this week to make their students feel safe and appreciated. |
| 03/10/2000 |
Profile of Learning May Be on Borrowed Time |
The Minnesota House Education Policy Committee has approved legislation to overhaul the Profile of Learning graduation standards. The measure retains, but siginificantly scales back the controversial show-what-you-know system. |
| 03/07/2000 |
Poll: Rebate Takes Back Seat to Permanent Tax Cuts, More Spending |
Results of a new Minnesota Public Radio - Saint Paul Pioneer Press poll show strong support for using the state budget surplus to make permanent tax cuts. But many respondents also want the Legislature to use the excess cash for schools, roads and other projects. |
| 02/29/2000 |
Teachers Split Over Profile's Future |
A coalition of education groups is urging the Minnesota Legislature to stick with the Profile of Learning graduation standards. Representatives of the organizations testified before the House Education Policy Committee, offering ways to improve the show-what-you-know system. But some teachers and parents say they still want the whole system dumped. |
| 02/24/2000 |
The Embattled Profile of Learning |
The House Education Policy Committee has begun working on legislation to alter the Profile of Learning graduation standards. Committee members heard presentations on ten separate Profile bills with plans to reduce them to one by the end of next week. |
| 02/08/2000 |
Writing Test: A Discouraging Word? |
Minnesota legislators are considering whether to ban state education officials from ever again using a contentious tenth-grade writing test question. Lawmakers who objected to the question, today backed away from their earlier proposal to throw out the test results. A House committee debated the issue but took no action. |
| 02/02/2000 |
Report Dispels Teacher Salary Myth |
A new report from the Legislative Auditor says while some Minnesota school districts are having budget problems, the overall financial health of schools is better than a decade ago. The study of school district finances also found that average teachers' salaries have declined in the last 10 years. |
| 01/05/2000 |
A Measure of Success |
Saint Paul public school officials say recent test scores indicate their schools and students are moving in the right direction. District leaders released results from last fall's Metropolitan Achievement Tests, which show gains at nearly every grade level and in most schools. |
| 11/30/1999 |
Ending Social Promotion |
Saint Paul School District officials say they want more public input on their plans to end the social promotion of students. School board members and administrators discussed the proposed promotion and retention policy, but a final vote won't come until early next year. |
| 11/03/1999 |
New Faces on School Boards |
203 of the state's 344 public school districts held elections Tuesday for school board seats, bond issues or tax levies. Voters made changes to the school boards in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. And the state's third largest school district approved a huge bond issue for more school space. |
| 10/20/1999 |
Minneapolis School Board Candidates Debate |
The November 2 election could result in a turnover of half of the Minneapolis school board. Four school board seats are up for grabs in the state's largest school district,and only one incumbent is seeking re-election. |
| 09/16/1999 |
See You at the Flagpole |
Students in Minnesota and throughout the nation gathered early this morning around the flagpoles at their schools to proclaim their religious faith. The student-led prayer service, known as "See You at the Pole," began in Texas in 1990 and has grown every year. Students say they feel a growing need these days to talk about God, even at school. |
| 09/03/1999 |
The Basic Basic |
Minneapolis schools place new emphasis on a basic skill for getting an education: showing up at school. |
| 08/30/1999 |
Back to School '99 |
Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire looks at the issues facing Minnesota's schools and students as the new school year begins. |
| 06/29/1999 |
A Passing Grade |
Despite some criticism, University of Minnesota President Mark Yudof gets high marks for handling the academic fraud scandal from the people who matter most: his bosses. |
| 06/10/1999 |
Haskins May Be Ousted |
Regents meet behind closed doors admid rumors they're talking about paying the coach to go away. |
| 05/28/1999 |
An End to "Animal House" |
Fraternities and sororities at the University of Minnesota try to end binge drinking as a major. |
| 05/10/1999 |
Arts High School Proves Perpich's Vision |
Perpich wanted the school to mirror New York's famous High School for the Performing Arts. Ten years later, it has. |
| 04/30/1999 |
No Free Pass |
Schools rethink the concept of "social promotion." |
| 04/28/1999 |
Accentuate the Positive |
Under previous administrations, the release of test scores was the inspiration for hand-wringing. The scores haven't changed much, but the reaction has. |
| 04/22/1999 |
No Telling |
Local students are as outraged as most people over the Colorado shootings, but many say they wouldn't tell anyone if they heard another student threatening to assault a school. |
| 04/06/1999 |
Condoms in the Schools |
Good protection or a license to say "yes?" |
| 03/18/1999 |
Early Warning |
University was warned years ago that cheating was possible in athletic department. |
| 03/12/1999 |
Yudof Faces the Heat |
University president promises legislators he'll get to the root of the academic fraud scandal. |
| 03/11/1999 |
Students React |
Most say they have little sympathy for Gopher players. |
| 03/08/1999 |
Does Class Size Make a Difference? |
One school's experiment suggests it does, but does that apply to all schools? |
| 03/03/1999 |
The Breakfast Boost |
Minnesota researchers prove link between breakfast and student performance. |
| 02/11/1999 |
Who'll Educate the Doctors? |
Officials worry a funding crisis will hurt the availability of physicians in Minnesota. |
| 02/10/1999 |
A Failing Grade |
Legislators ditch controversial "Profile of Learning". |
| 01/29/1999 |
Ventura Budget Challenges Educators |
His budget comes with a price: results. |
| 01/28/1999 |
Grad Students May Unionize |
Organizers are trying to form a union of grad students and research assistants at the University of Minnesota. |
| 04/10/1998 |
Catholic School Resurgence in the Twin Cities |
From suburbs to inner city, enrollments in parochial schools are going up - for a variety of reasons. |
| 02/02/1998 |
Test Pressure |
While some question the value of standardized tests, most schools are seeking to improve performance. |
| 11/17/1997 |
Learning with the Flow |
When they gather at the river, students learn more than just how to collect and analyze data. |
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