Minnesota math standards to be reviewed

This week, Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren announced that applications are now being accepted for the Minnesota Math Standards Revision Committee. The new committee will begin the process of analyzing and recommending changes to Minnesota's current math standards.

"Minnesota took a big step forward when we eliminated the Profile of Learning and replaced it with more rigorous standards," Commissioner Seagren said in a press release. "Now, we invite Minnesotans to help us further improve upon those standards in order to better prepare our students for a more competitive global environment."

The revision committee will revise the math standards to align with the knowledge and skills needed for college readiness and advanced work. The standards must also be revised to align with a new law, proposed by Governor Pawlenty and passed by the Legislature, requiring Algebra I by 8th grade and Algebra II to graduate from high school. Technology and information literacy standards must be embedded into the standards as well.

Individuals can apply for the standards revision committee at www.education.state.mn.us/StandardsCommittee. Applications must be submitted by September 29. The committee will hold its first meeting on October 11. The Department of Education is encouraging a diverse cross-section of Minnesotans, including educators, parents and representatives from higher education and business, to apply for the revision committee.

EDUCATION | MATH

Let freedom ring

Our ability to defend — intelligently and thoughtfully — what we as a nation hold dear depends on the knowledge and understanding of what we hold dear. —Diane Ravitch

The good news is that 5% of all the schools in the United States that officially celebrated Constitution Day on Monday were in Minnesota.

The bad news is that only 42 schools celebrated Constitution Day nationwide. That's not even one per state.

Fortunately, Minnesota's Academic Standards for Social Studies specify that students, beginning in the earliest grades, become familiar with our founding documents, including the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence:

Grades 9-12 Standard: The student will understand the foundation of the American government and nation.

Grades 9-12 Benchmarks:

1. Students will identify and explain the basic principles that were set forth in the documents that declared the nation's independence (the Declaration of Independence, inalienable rights and self-evident truths) and that established the new nation's government (the Constitution).

2. Students will describe and evaluate the major achievements and problems of the Confederation period, and analyze the debates over the Articles of Confederation and the revision of governmental institutions that created the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the interpretive function of the Supreme Court.

3. Students will describe and explain the emergence of the first American party system.

Still, let's see if we can at least double the number of Minnesota schools that celebrate Constitution Day next year.

EDUCATION | CONSTITUTION DAY

9/11 gag order in the schools

The fifth anniversary of 9/11, one of the most significant events in history, was not discussed let alone commemorated in any way at my kids' middle school.

Please let us know in the comments how 9/11 was commemorated at your local K-12 school.

EDUCATION | 9-11