An annual report card from Education Week magazine gives Minnesota low marks for its teaching quality and says the state's education spending is middle-of-the-pack.
The group's "Quality Counts" annual report on K-12 education gives Minnesota a D+ for how well the state is improving its teaching. It placed 39th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The low score comes mostly from the state's lack of various teaching programs and effectiveness measures that other state's have For example, the state was docked for lacking a statewide program to reduce class sizes.
On the upside, the report shows that Minnesota student's chances for success based on education and family factors are far better than students in most other states. In that category, Minnesota got a B+, and ranked seventh nationwide.
Education Commissioner Alice Seagren says the report will prompt more discussion of ways to improve teaching and attract more people to the profession.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
