September 27, 2004 - Any way you look at it, students of color aren't doing as well in school as their white classmates. The academic disparities among racial groups are known collectively as "the achievement gap." Each round of test scores puts the problem in sharp focus. It's a persistent, national problem. But recent reports have shown an especially wide gap in Minnesota. There's no single cause or a clear solution. Still, schools are under increased pressure to close the divide. All this week, Minnesota Public Radio is examining the issue. Reporter Tim Pugmire begins our series, The Education Achievement Gap: Minnesota's Embarrassment, with this overview.
September 28, 2004 - Students from around the world are finding it increasingly difficult to study in the United States. Colleges and universities in Minnesota, and throughout the country, have reported a slowdown in foreign student applications. Higher education officials say new anti-terror laws have made it much harder to get a student visa. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
September 28, 2004 - All Thing’s Considered’s David Molpus interviews Pat Harvey, St. Paul School District Superintendent, about incoming Hmong students. School officials are asking the state for more time to enroll new Hmong students coming from a refugee camp in Thailand.
October 1, 2004 - Augsburg College History Professor and former Minneapolis School Board member Bill Green.
October 13, 2004 - As George Bush and John Kerry battle for the White House, they're discussing foreign policy, the war in Iraq and a variety of domestic concerns. But one issue they've been relatively silent on is immigration. Immigration advocates want the candidates to throw support behind several bills, including one that would help undocumented immigrant high school students go to college. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
October 13, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty says he wants to increase K-12 education funding next year, as long as the money is linked to several key reforms. The governor plans to push the recommendations of a national panel that wants to overhaul the current systems for training and paying teachers. Pawlenty outlined his priorities for schools today (Wednesday) during a meeting with business, education and government leaders. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
October 25, 2004 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports that English language classes are bursting at the seams in the Twin Cities. New arrivals to the United States have been packing the classes, eager to learn the primary language of their new homeland.
November 9, 2004 - A Minnesota Citizens League report on higher education released today says the state is ill-prepared to handle the changing and expanding demographics of low income, immigrant and minority students. The report urges state leaders to make short and long term reforms to ensure Minnesota maintains its high quality of life by investing in a highly educated workforce.
November 15, 2004 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that St. Paul School District officials say 600 Hmong refugee students have enrolled since the beginning of the school year, and hundreds more could still arrive in the coming weeks.
November 24, 2004 - Voices of Minnesota pays a visit to two prominent Catholic leaders in the state: Father Larry Snyder, the new head of Catholic Charities USA, and Sister Andrea Lee, president of College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.