Top Headlines


Local Schools Working to Recoup Unpaid Lunch Tabs

Schools tend to see a couple thousand dollars of negative lunch balances each year, but the Rochester Public Schools have accumulated $13,000 in unpaid lunches.
Updated: May 22, 07:07 PM

Education Headlines

Minn. Senate Backs U of M, MNSCU Tuition Freezes

The Senate passed a state higher education budget by a bipartisan, 44-22 vote on Friday that includes a $250 million spending increase.
Updated: May 17, 03:12 PM

Iowa House Approves Higher Education Budget

House lawmakers have reached a spending compromise for Iowa's public universities and other education programs.
Updated: May 16, 06:18 PM

Rochester Rally for Safe & Supportive Schools Act

The group ‘Student Leaders for Change’ gathered at Peace Plaza in Rochester Friday, rallying for legislation to combat bullying in schools.
Updated: May 03, 10:44 PM

Health Officials Proposed Immunization Changes

Health officials want to add the hepatitis A and B vaccine for children enrolled in child care or school-based early childhood learning programs.
Updated: Apr 30, 10:17 AM

Senate Democrats Offer Compromise for Iowa Education Plan

Senate Democrats and House Republicans have approved different versions of the plan and have not yet been able to work out a deal.
Updated: Apr 29, 03:57 PM

Senate Passes Budget for All-Day Kindergarten

The state Senate has passed its education budget to provide funding for all-day kindergarten.
Updated: Apr 25, 09:10 PM

All Day Kindergarten in MN Closer to Reality

The Austin school district implemented all-day, every-day kindergarten several years ago.  It's hoping other districts will be do the same.
Updated: Apr 24, 07:00 PM

Minn. School Testing System Has More Problems

For the second week in a row, districts report their students have experienced long waits for test questions to be delivered through the online testing portal.
Updated: Apr 24, 10:08 AM

Technology Tour Helps Shape Young Scientists

As American students continue to fall behind the rest of the world in math and science, educators are looking for new ways to get kids interested in the hard sciences.
Updated: Apr 19, 06:54 PM

Kindergarten Classroom Fills Special Niche

When Woodson kindergarten center in Austin got a make-over, one area got made-over differently than the others.
Updated: Apr 17, 06:26 PM

Backpack Program Closes Weekend Gap

Kids who might need food for the weekend are identified by teachers, who send a note home, asking parents if they want help.
Updated: Apr 16, 05:44 PM

Mother Defends Her Child With Autism at School Board Meeting

It was a video that shocked many. A Rochester paraprofessional caught on camera being rough with an autistic student. Tuesday, that mother publicly addressed the school board in tears.
Updated: Apr 10, 01:11 PM

Boost for Early Education in Minn. House Budget

Minnesota schools would receive state funding for all-day kindergarten and an extra $200 per pupil on average in House Democrats' plans for education spending.
Updated: Apr 09, 08:28 PM

Late Start Wednesdays Next Year for Dover-Eyota Students

Dover-Eyota students will be able to sleep in one day a week next year. The school board approved a measure Monday night that has school starting an hour late each Wednesday.
Updated: Apr 09, 06:37 PM

Higher Education Budgets Target Tuition Costs

The House and Senate budget bills unveiled Monday would send more money to the state's grant program and give public colleges and universities millions of dollars dedicated to freezing tuition rates.
Updated: Apr 08, 03:16 PM

Pine Island Community Pushing For a New School

The Pine Island community is looking for ways to ease overcrowding. They've voted against building a new school three times in the last decade.
Updated: Apr 05, 07:45 PM

In Iowa, a GOP Governor Charts a Different Course

The governor wants to address falling test scores. And he says he's willing to invest more resources if it can be done "in an intelligent way."
Updated: Mar 27, 03:04 PM

Early Math Skills Prove Pivotal

A new study of 180 seventh graders showed that students who struggled with math in middle school were the same students who had difficulty in first grade.
Updated: Mar 26, 07:58 PM

Bowling Event Boosts Enrollment for New West Concord Public Charter School

Residents in West Concord wanted a school of their own and now they could be getting one.
Updated: Mar 25, 12:49 AM

Educating Parents on Cyberbullying

One school is trying to put a stop to "cyberbullying", but Thursday’s event wasn't just for the students.
Updated: Mar 21, 10:42 PM

Local Students Heading to National Science Olympiad Competition

 15 lucky students have won the chance to represent Minnesota at the National Science Olympiad Competition. 
Updated: Mar 21, 07:09 PM

Local Students Honored for Invention to Help with Autism

Monday we learned there's a new invention that could help people living with autism. Listen to this, it was created by two 5th graders from Jefferson Elementary. They recently took home top honors for it in a regional competition.
Updated: Mar 20, 10:18 PM

Gail O’Kane Chosen as Interim President of RCTC

O’Kane has served as associate vice president for strategy, planning and accountability at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) since March 2011. 
Updated: Mar 20, 04:37 PM

Adenuga Atewologun Named New Riverland President

Atewologun has served as vice president, academic affairs and dean of faculty at Prairie State College (IL) since 2009. 
Updated: Mar 20, 04:36 PM

Proposal Would End High School Graduation Tests

Instead, students would take tests designed to gauge whether they are ready for college or the workforce.
Updated: Mar 14, 10:11 AM

Byron Elementary School to Relocate Kindergarten Classes

 The Byron School District has seen a spike in enrollment over the last couple of years. With nowhere else to grow inside the elementary school, they have to expand elsewhere.
Updated: Mar 13, 07:00 PM

Dream Kids On The Road Again

The Minnesota Prosperity Act will allow certain immigrant youth to pay in-state tuition, receive state financial aid, and allow public colleges and universities to award private funds to students who meet certain criteria.
Updated: Mar 13, 06:58 PM

Snow Days Adding Up for Area Schools

That big cheer you heard early Monday was the sound of area school kids reacting to news of another snow day. But school officials are taking it a little more seriously.
Updated: Mar 11, 06:37 PM

Army Suspends Tuition Assistance Program

Friday we learned the US Army is suspending its tuition assistance program. News that comes as a shock to those who rely on it.
Updated: Mar 08, 10:43 PM

Grab and Go Breakfast a Hit at Rochester Elementary Schools

Schools across the country are celebrating National School Breakfast Week; and that includes in Southeast Minnesota.
Updated: Mar 07, 05:11 AM

Special Education Costs vex Minn. School Districts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's legislative auditor says fast-rising special education costs are hampering the ability of school districts to reach other education goals, such as reducing class sizes.
Updated: Mar 06, 03:27 PM

Early Childhood Agency Proposed

A new bill introduced in the Minnesota senate on Monday would drastically change the way state agencies address early childhood issues.
Updated: Mar 04, 10:38 PM

Austin Schools Kick Off Holton Meetings

On Monday, the Austin school district kicked-off a series of information and registration meetings for parents of students who will be attending the new school when it opens this fall.
Updated: Mar 04, 07:00 PM

Are Four Year Degrees Still Worth It?

A new trend shows that, in some fields, those with two year degrees may be earning more.  
Updated: Mar 01, 06:23 PM

Free ACT Tests Offered for Austin High School Students

The ACT measures student knowledge in four key areas – reading, English, math and science -- and plugs the results into what it calls the “college readiness benchmark”. 
Updated: Feb 26, 06:43 PM

Health Law Could Mean Teacher Layoffs, Fewer Hours

Hundreds of Iowa school districts are figuring out what the Affordable Health Care Act will mean to their part-time employees.
Updated: Feb 26, 03:08 PM

Tougher Reading Tests for MN Students

Schools across Minnesota are gearing up for a tougher reading test this spring. The new exam will reflect new literacy standards the state adopted as part of a national initiative called Common Core...
Updated: Feb 26, 09:25 AM

Students Get Reading Help From The Corps

It's the skill that comes first among the three R's and now Minnesota students who need to improve their reading ability have another place to turn for help.
Updated: Feb 25, 06:15 PM

Crossroads College Facing Financial Problems

For Crossroads College in Rochester, financial struggles could harm students, if the school loses accreditation.
Updated: Feb 22, 06:41 PM

The ABC's of Woodson Elementary

On Thursday, the kids and staff at Woodson welcomed a guest who wanted to see first-hand what makes the school special.
Updated: Feb 21, 06:55 PM