Heintzeman statement on MCA scores showing half of students failing to meet math and reading standards

The Minnesota Department of Education on Friday released the year’s updated MCA test scores. For the third year in a row, scores are nearly flat. Only 45.2% of students are meeting grade level standards in math and 49.6% of students are meeting grade level standards in reading.

Senator Keri Heintzeman (R–Nisswa) released the following statement:

“Nearly half of Minnesota students are failing to meet reading and math standards. That should be a wake-up call for every leader in this state. Parents and teachers already know what works: focusing on the fundamentals and keeping politics out of the classroom. But instead of addressing our struggles, the Walz administration has chosen to double down on inserting political agendas into schools and crushing them with mandates.

“Classrooms should be places where children learn how to read, write, and do math, not tools to use in political debates. It’s time to put students first, restore focus on the basics, and make sure every child leaves school prepared for success.”