Minnesota Student Proficiency Levels Remain Steady in Math and Reading
According to the latest results from the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests, student proficiency levels in math and reading have remained relatively flat since last year. Statewide, 45.2% of students met or exceeded standards in math, while 49.6% met or exceeded standards in reading. These numbers are slightly down from the previous year, where 45.5% of students reached grade-level standards in math and 49.9% tested as proficient in reading.
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests are administered to students in third through eighth grades and once in high school. The tests aim to measure student proficiency in math, reading, and science. While the latest results show a slight decline in math and reading proficiency, there are some positive trends emerging. For instance, consistent attendance rates have improved this year, with 75.5% of students attending at least 90% of the time in the 2023-2024 school year, up from 74.5% in the 2022-23 school year.
St. Paul Public Schools Show Slight Improvements
In St. Paul Public Schools, students’ overall scores improved slightly from those of last year. About 26.6% of students scored proficient in math, and 34.8% were proficient in reading. These numbers are based on students who took the test and received a valid score. Andrew Collins, SPPS executive chief of schools, noted that while the improvements are slight, they demonstrate the district’s focus on student outcomes and academic performance.
Efforts to improve attendance have also been underway in St. Paul Public Schools. The district participated in a pilot program to improve attendance, and state officials are working to identify which efforts have been most effective. According to Michael Diedrich, an education policy specialist with the state Department of Education, the pilot program has shown promising results, with increased attendance rates and small decreases in proficiency gaps between different student demographics.
Initiatives to Support Student Success
Several initiatives are ongoing to support student success in Minnesota. The READ Act, signed into law in 2023, aims to have all Minnesota children reading at or above grade level every year. The act also supports multilingual learners and students receiving special education services in their individualized reading goals. Teachers and instructional support staff began receiving reading instruction training in July 2024, with districts requesting training for over 30,000 teachers as of January.
In addition to the READ Act, other initiatives include teacher recruitment and retention programs and COMPASS, a statewide system to support schools in areas such as special education and English language learning. These initiatives demonstrate the state’s commitment to supporting student success and closing proficiency gaps between different student demographics.
For more information on the latest Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test results, visit Here.
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