NEWS RELEASE
REP. ALTENDORF RESPONDS TO DECLINING MCA SCORES UNDER WALZ ADMINISTRATION
Saint Paul, MN — The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has released MCA results from the 2024 assessment. The results show that less than half of Minnesota’s students are proficient in reading, math, or science with rates of 49.9%, 45.5%, and 39.6% respectively. Especially notable is the 46.5% reading proficiency score for 3rdgraders, an age that is often cited as being a key indicator for future learning and one that has dropped by nearly an entire point in just the last year.
Representative Pam Altendorf (R – Red Wing), a member of the Education Finance Committee, said these new results show that Democrats have completely misplaced priorities and misdirected funding for our public schools.
“We already knew that Minnesota kids were struggling, so it was even more alarming to see the one-party controlled Democrat trifecta give ‘record funding’ to our public schools, which mostly grew administration and bureaucracy, while these results are clearly showing MN students are continuing to fail with basic academics,” Altendorf said. “K-12 Education overwhelmingly receives the largest percentage of our state budget, yet our Education ratings are plummeting by every measure. Since Gov. Walz took office Math scores are down 17%, Reading down 16% and Science scores are down 23%.”
“The fact that Governor Walz attempted to hold back this release until Dec, 1st is more proof of how awful this news is, and that Democrats are concerned these failing scores will impact the November elections.” Altendorf continued. “Politics aside, no one could possibly be satisfied with these results. We must prioritize giving back local control and end all the costly and burdensome mandates which are strangling our schools. Our children are our future, the stakes are too high, we have the ability to empowering parents, teachers and students over this insatiable desire of growing government while having these dismal results.”