SciMathMN

MDE delays Science and English Language Arts standards by a year

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The Minnesota Department of Education has chosen to delay implementation of the new state academic standards in Science and Language Arts by one year until the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, respectively.  The Department cited a goal of providing schools flexibility as the state emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.  MDE stated that their authority allowed in the rulemaking process allows for this delay.

The planned update to the state’s standardized tests, the MCA-IV will also be delayed a year.  The new Science test for grades five, eight, and high school will be administered for the first time in the spring of 2026.  The Reading MCA-IV for grades three through eight and high school will be delayed until spring of 2026.

 

The new state standards in the Arts and Phy Ed will move forward with implementation on their current timeline. There is however legislation currently being considered to delay the implementation of those standards as well.  The legislature must adjourn by May 17.

Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board Provides Flexibility for Science Teachers and Schools

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March 19 the Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved a resolution providing Tier 3 and 4 science teachers and their schools greater flexibility to support the implementation of the new state science standards in science.

The flexibility recognizes the 2019 state science standards shift the teaching of earth and space science from 8th grade to 6th grade, and physical science classes from high school to 8th grade.  This poses challenges for some teachers and schools depending on the teacher’s exact licensure.  The PELSB resolution allows for out of field permission for teachers to teach in a science content area or grade outside the scope of their current licensure.  These out of field placements do not require the position posting normally required of schools and do not count towards a teacher’s lifetime maximum out of field placements.

Examples of the application of this flexibility provided by PELSB            include

  • A Tier 4 teacher who holds a 7 -12 Earth and Space Science license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Earth & Space Science at the 6th grade level during the 2021-22 school year.
  • A Tier 4 teacher who holds a 7 -12 Earth and Space Science license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Physical Science at the 8th grade level during the 2021-22 school year.
  • A Tier 3 or Tier 4 teacher who holds either a 9 – 12 Physics or 9 – 12 Chemistry license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Physical Science at the 8th grade level during the 2021-22 school year.

This resolution will remain in effect while the board develops new rules in response to changes driven by the new science standards.

PELSB can be found online at https://mn.gov/pelsb/ and questions regarding this resolution can be submitted at pelsb@state.mn.us.

2020 Election Preview

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The Election is just around the corner, November 3rd and a lot of choices are on the ballots of Minnesotans.  The absentee ballot process in Minnesota has been expanded due to COVID and already over 1 million Minnesotans have cast their ballot.  There are significant races both at the State and … [Continue reading...]