EDUCATION Archives — Sahan Journal

St. Paul has a plan to pursue more equitable education by closing and merging schools. But immigrant parents say it would hurt their communities.

by Becky Z. Dernbach November 24, 2021November 24, 2021

Somali American parents in St. Paul say a plan to close Highwood Hills Elementary would endanger a neighborhood hub. Latino parents say they weren’t included in the decision to close Wellstone Elementary. With a school-board vote coming soon, immigrant parents want to be heard.

Fights, depression, substance abuse: Mental health of Minnesota students suffers during COVID pandemic.

by Elizabeth Shockman November 23, 2021November 23, 2021

Immigrant students rally to save a small St. Paul high school from closing. ‘It feels like you belong in this country,’ a recent graduate says of the program.

by Becky Z. Dernbach November 15, 2021November 16, 2021

‘Horrific, hateful, racist’ video stirs protest at Prior Lake High School

by Elizabeth Shockman, Tim Nelson and Matt Sepic November 11, 2021November 15, 2021

This year, Minnesota school-board meetings endured a backlash against diversity. On Election Day, three suburban districts elected Somali Americans for the first time.

by Becky Z. Dernbach November 10, 2021November 10, 2021

DEMOCRACY & POLITICS

With St. Paul school board win, Halla Henderson becomes first Eritrean American elected to office in Minnesota

by Becky Z. Dernbach November 3, 2021November 4, 2021

In White House visit, Minnesota’s top teachers bring President Biden a message from second graders in Burnsville

by Becky Z. Dernbach October 18, 2021October 20, 2021

Peggy Flanagan hails $1.3 million investment to teach K–12 students the ‘full true history’ of Minnesota’s Indigenous people.

by Becky Z. Dernbach October 8, 2021October 8, 2021

Somali American youth in St. Cloud sign up for new class in school: Reading and writing Somali.

by Kirsti Marohn October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

University of Minnesota appoints its first immigrant, person of color as dean at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs

by Hibah Ansari September 22, 2021September 22, 2021

Less than 30 percent of Minnesota’s people of color believe schools offer equal opportunities to all students, survey says.

by Elizabeth Shockman September 20, 2021September 24, 2021

On the first day of school, Minneapolis students say they’re happy—and only slightly confuzzled—to get back to in-person learning.

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 9, 2021September 10, 2021

Everything you need to know about the COVID safety plans in Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 8, 2021September 9, 2021

‘There is nothing safe about Delta in schools’: How parents can plan for the pandemic this fall

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 1, 2021September 1, 2021

Natalia Benjamin becomes first educator of Latin American heritage to win Minnesota Teacher of the Year

by Becky Z. Dernbach August 11, 2021August 20, 2021

Back to the future: As a new academic year approaches, schools are once again being forced to make decisions about whether to require masks.

by Joey Peters August 6, 2021August 6, 2021

English is important, but so is Somali: Minneapolis Public Schools are launching a Somali Heritage Language Program.

by Hana Ikramuddin August 3, 2021August 3, 2021

Robots, skateboards, bike rides: Summer school helps Twin Cities kids switch back to the classroom

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 30, 2021July 29, 2021

Arts

Beyond stereotypes: Daybreak Press aims to broaden depiction of Muslims in Minneapolis school books

by Hana Ikramuddin July 27, 2021July 27, 2021

The diverse teachers Minnesota needs may already be working in schools—as classroom aides. New state funding promises to help them level up.

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 16, 2021July 16, 2021

As a child, Abdulaziz Mohamed looked to Barack Obama for proof he could be president. On July 1, he became the first Somali American student-body president at the University of Minnesota.

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 6, 2021July 7, 2021

Inside one Minnesota school district’s battle over an equity training program.

by Elizabeth Shockman June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

Minnesota pioneered the movement for charter schools 30 years ago. Since then, one in every three statewide has closed.

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 24, 2021June 24, 2021

Cedar Riverside Community School is closing. The first big step in replacing it is understanding why it failed. Here’s what we found over a year of reporting.

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 17, 2021June 17, 2021

‘We were able to achieve what we thought was impossible’: In a senior year like no other, these graduates found a way to thrive

by Becky Z. Dernbach and Aala Abdullahi June 14, 2021June 11, 2021

Too hot for school: Minneapolis and St. Paul close school buildings during June heat wave

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 7, 2021June 10, 2021

Many immigrant kids deal with layers of trauma. This teacher’s answer: ‘I love you, and I trust you.’

by Logan Carroll May 24, 2021May 24, 2021

‘I want to wear the gown, I want the cap, I want tassels’: Minneapolis high school seniors want to walk the graduation stage—even if they’re missing credits.

by Becky Z. Dernbach May 18, 2021May 18, 2021

For almost three decades, Somali children in Minneapolis’ Riverside Plaza could attend school in their apartment complex. The historic school will close permanently June 30.

by Becky Z. Dernbach May 13, 2021May 14, 2021

Showdown at school board meeting: Elk River alumni of color say they ‘never felt safe,’ parents decry ‘woke mob’

by Becky Z. Dernbach May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

A landmark Minneapolis charter school may close forever in June. Its leadership debated the school’s fate in a meeting without Somali parents, community politicians, or the press.

by Becky Z. Dernbach May 7, 2021May 7, 2021

Students in Elk River asked the school’s equity specialist to explain looting. Now their parents want him fired.

by Becky Z. Dernbach May 6, 2021May 6, 2021

Mass protests against racism spur statewide student walkout

by Becky Z. Dernbach April 19, 2021April 19, 2021

Asian American history is rarely taught in schools. Educators say that fuels anti-Asian violence—and are pushing for change.

by Becky Z. Dernbach April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

Minneapolis nonprofit may face ‘corrective action’ for flawed supervision of 21 charter schools.

by Becky Z. Dernbach April 6, 2021April 6, 2021

Pillsbury United announces intent to close landmark Cedar Riverside Community School

by Becky Z. Dernbach April 1, 2021April 1, 2021

Students of color disproportionately choosing distance learning.

by Elizabeth Shockman April 1, 2021April 1, 2021

Diversity debate over teaching licenses creates confusion for Minnesota’s teachers of color.

by Becky Z. Dernbach March 29, 2021March 29, 2021

A senior at Macalester College found a trick to represent the complex identities of other students of color: He asked them to talk about themselves.

by Becky Z. Dernbach March 15, 2021March 16, 2021

Musab Hussein needed to rent a laptop to take a University of Minnesota exam. Instead he was told, ‘You do not look like a U of M student.’ And then things got worse.

by Becky Z. Dernbach March 11, 2021March 11, 2021

Why 2021 might be the year Minnesota addresses its teacher of color shortage

by Becky Z. Dernbach March 6, 2021March 8, 2021

‘Almost like getting permission to be a kid’: Even through the pandemic winter, Eden Prairie teacher helps first graders connect with nature

by Becky Z. Dernbach March 1, 2021March 1, 2021

‘I won’t be the last Black woman to leave the college’: At St. Olaf College, resignations of Black faculty and diverse staff leave students seeking answers

by Becky Z. Dernbach and Eli Tan February 18, 2021February 19, 2021

Summer school in the park: Walz administration proposes expanded programs and more flexible venues to ready kids for the next academic year.

by Becky Z. Dernbach February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

As Minneapolis classrooms reopen, white students most likely to return to in-person learning

by Becky Z. Dernbach February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

We toured a Minneapolis school to see new COVID safety measures. Then we asked an expert how well they’d work. Here’s what we found.

by Becky Z. Dernbach February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

As Minnesota elementary schools reopen, teachers say they hope to hear students giggle again. They’re also preparing their wills.

by Becky Z. Dernbach February 1, 2021February 2, 2021

Everyone wants to close Minnesota’s achievement gap. Students say it starts with hiring more teachers of color.

by Becky Z. Dernbach January 27, 2021January 27, 2021

A violent white mob and a Black woman vice president: In tumultuous two weeks, Twin Cities educators teach history in real time

by Becky Z. Dernbach January 20, 2021January 20, 2021

Everything you need to know about whether to send your kids back to the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

by Becky Z. Dernbach January 18, 2021January 18, 2021

St. Paul Public Schools data show the devastating effect of pandemic and distance learning on students of color.

by Becky Z. Dernbach December 21, 2020December 21, 2020

Minnesota’s first generation students are working three jobs, supporting their families—and figuring out how to apply for college during a pandemic.

by Becky Z. Dernbach December 14, 2020December 11, 2020

Minnesota’s 2020 Teacher of the Year read her class a picture book to help them understand the George Floyd killing. Minnesota’s largest police association didn’t like it.

by Becky Z. Dernbach November 18, 2020August 24, 2021

In the race for a southwest Minneapolis school board seat, candidates share competing visions for making schools equitable during—and after—the pandemic

by Becky Z. Dernbach October 22, 2020November 20, 2020

North Minneapolis school board candidates talk about running the schools through COVID-19—and what comes after.

by Becky Z. Dernbach October 21, 2020October 22, 2020

‘I’m not alone’: Minnesota students of color lead movement for equity in schools

by Elizabeth Shockman October 21, 2020October 21, 2020

Cast your vote: Which candidate should you support for the Minneapolis school board at-large seat?

by Becky Z. Dernbach October 20, 2020October 20, 2020

Longer hours and less face time: Overextended teachers try to preserve a human connection in an era of distance learning

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 28, 2020August 12, 2021

Family of bullied Muslim teen sues Minnesota school district, two years after his suicide.

by Hibah Ansari September 16, 2020September 16, 2020

Mastering the mute button, treating nosebleeds over Zoom, Minneapolis students and teachers go back to school—at home.

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 9, 2020September 10, 2020

Minnesota school districts say they want to fill classrooms with talented teachers of color. Then they lay them off.

by Becky Z. Dernbach September 4, 2020September 4, 2020

Should kids go back to the classroom during the pandemic? We asked them. And their answers surprised us.

by Becky Z. Dernbach August 21, 2020August 21, 2020

Somali American educator Qorsho Hassan wins Minnesota Teacher of the Year award

by Becky Z. Dernbach August 6, 2020August 7, 2020

We crammed Governor Tim Walz’s entire COVID-19 back-to-school plan into one cheat sheet. (The test comes this fall.)

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 31, 2020July 31, 2020

‘I can’t teach if I’m dead’: Minnesota teachers of color say distance learning is best option for fall

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 28, 2020July 28, 2020

ICE to international students: Remember that rule change we proposed? Never mind.

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 14, 2020July 14, 2020

Race divides Minnesota parents’ views on schools reopening

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

What you need to know about ICE’s troublesome rules for international students–and Minnesota’s plans to stop them

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 8, 2020July 14, 2020

As students, they never had Somali teachers. Now they’re Minnesota’s first Somali public school principals.

by Becky Z. Dernbach July 6, 2020July 6, 2020

Push to defund University of Minnesota police started with chemical irritant at Somali Night

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 26, 2020June 26, 2020

St. Paul school board votes police out of schools after pressure from students of color

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 23, 2020June 24, 2020

Students of color press St. Paul district to cut ties with Police Department

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 22, 2020June 22, 2020

These East African students were told they couldn’t go to high school. They just graduated.

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 16, 2020June 16, 2020

‘Dreams coming true’: Cristo Rey students celebrate their hard-earned high school graduation

by Becky Z. Dernbach and Jaida Grey Eagle June 8, 2020June 12, 2020

Remembering Minnesotans lost to COVID-19

St. Paul school board chair Marny Xiong dies of COVID-19

by Sahan Journal June 7, 2020June 12, 2020

This south-central Minnesota school district has one black board member. He was left out of the board’s group photo.

by Becky Z. Dernbach June 3, 2020June 12, 2020

Immigrant families face complex challenges with Minnesota’s distance learning

by Hannah Yang and Abdirahman Mohamed April 13, 2020April 18, 2020

Somali educator Qorsho Hassan named finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year award

by Mukhtar M. Ibrahim and Abdirahman Mohamed April 7, 2020April 8, 2020

Coronavirus, EDUCATION

Las escuelas de Minnesota están cerradas hasta principios de mayo: Aquí hay 9 cosas que debes saber.

by Elizabeth Shockman March 28, 2020April 1, 2020

Coronavirus, EDUCATION

Iskuulada Minnesota ayaa xidhan ilaa billowga Maajo: 9 arrimood oo aad u baahantahay in aad ogaatid.

by Elizabeth Shockman March 28, 2020April 1, 2020

Coronavirus, EDUCATION

Xeev Minnesota cov tsev kawm ntawv raug kaw mus txog thaum Lub Tsib Hlis Ntuj pib: Nov yog 9 yam uas koj yuavtsum paub txog

by Elizabeth Shockman March 28, 2020April 1, 2020

Coronavirus, EDUCATION

Minnesota schools are closed until early May: Here are 9 things you need to know

by Elizabeth Shockman March 28, 2020April 1, 2020

With first Latina president, Macalester College makes history

by Joey Peters February 3, 2020April 1, 2020

CULTURE & COMMUNITY, EDUCATION

University of Minnesota student taps Nigerian roots to design a sneaker for Nike

by Jeffrey Bissoy December 5, 2019April 1, 2020

CULTURE & COMMUNITY, EDUCATION

Chinese, English language students learn from each other in U of M program

by Riham Feshir December 2, 2019April 1, 2020

EDUCATION, Immigration

Trump’s ‘public charge’ proposal frightened some immigrants into keeping kids off Medicaid

by Elizabeth Shockman October 23, 2019April 1, 2020

In one Twin Cities classroom, learning in Hmong and about being Hmong

by Elizabeth Shockman October 10, 2019April 1, 2020

BUSINESS & WORK, EDUCATION

As demand for coding skills rise, New Vision Foundation trains Twin Cities immigrant kids

by Joey Peters October 2, 2019April 1, 2020

North St. Paul district is taking a new approach to fighting racism in schools

by Elizabeth Shockman September 14, 2019April 1, 2020

New St. Thomas dean ready to take on region’s diverse health care needs

by Joey Peters September 11, 2019April 1, 2020

Latino parents group teaches cultural skills to thrive in Minnesota schools

by Elizabeth Shockman September 9, 2019April 1, 2020

Minnesota education officials: New immigration rules could strip funding from schools, students

by Elizabeth Shockman September 2, 2019April 1, 2020