Yesterday the Minnesota Department of Education released statewide testing results for student achievement, showing little improvement from last year as students’ test scores continue to fall below the national average. Senator Rob Farnsworth (R- Hibbing) released the following statement:

“I’m frustrated with the latest round of student scores. And unfortunately, achievement scores will not be helped by the dozens of new mandates placed on educators. Rather than focus on their core mission of teaching students, school districts have been forced to comply with massive benefit, curriculum, and policy changes. Our teachers and schools need the freedom to focus on learning. This should be a serious wake-up call to legislators that we must not put more mandates on educators but allow them to address each student’s needs as they see fit.”