Author | Lightnews

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 2h

While walking around the neighborhood or in the house, play a game with your child where you find items that start with specific sounds. For example, you might say, “Let’s find something that starts with /b/.” Find more reading skills tips 👉 education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/lit/ #FamiliesREAD #Phonics

A mom reads a book to her daughter in the library. Families READ. Letter Sound Hunt. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 1d

We are supporting new teachers with our Statewide New Teacher Instructional Support Sessions, a virtual series, where new teachers can learn about best teaching practices and opportunities to collaborate with colleagues. Find these sessions and others at education.mn.gov/MDE/about/ca...

A young teacher in her classroom talking with high school students.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 2d

Minnesota’s public libraries are community hubs where people of any age can borrow or download books, use a computer, attend a class or program, meet with colleagues, study with friends, or relax. Learn more about Minnesota libraries and find one near you: education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/lib/

A boy in a wheelchair looks at an iPad while a girl looks at books on the shelf and two other kids read at a bench in the children's section of the library.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 6d

Crosslake Community School celebrated Farm to Kids Month with a delicious Farm to School lunch! 🍎🌱
Menu: Rancher’s Legacy beef, local produce (Svihel, Brakstad, Revol Greens, Foothill Orchard), Bongard’s cheese & more.
Students toured the greenhouse & learned aquaponics! 💧🌿
#FarmToSchool #MNlocal

Lunch tray with the farm to school contents of cucumbers, corn, a burger, and a salad.

Greenhouse tour with two people by the aquaponic growing system

Picture of the menu: Local beef from Rancher’s Legacy, Fresh produce from Svihel Vegetable Farm, Brakstad Farm, Revol Greens & Foothill Orchard, Cheese from Bongard’s, Buns from Pan O’Gold Bakery, Oatmeal from Doubting Thomas Farm, Maple syrup from Lemire’s Syrup

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Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 6d

Model “I Wonder”, “I Notice” and “It Reminds Me Of” statements rather than just questions because children love to share their thoughts. Asking, I wonder, allows kids to jump right into what is in their heads. 📚 Find more reading skills tips 👉 education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/lit/ #FamiliesREAD

A man reads a book to his two daughters. Families READ. Model 'I wonder' statements. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 7d

We are investing student emergency medical training with grant funding to assist districts and schools in developing and strengthening emergency medical training coursework. Districts and schools can learn more and apply by Nov. 5 at education.mn.gov/MDE/DSE/Gran...

Emergency Medical Training Grant. Open to: Districts, charter schools, Tribally Controlled Schools, cooperative units. Apply by Nov. 5. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 9d

As we celebrate the start of National Friends of Libraries Week, we want to thank everyone who volunteers and donates to support their local Minnesota libraries as they provide access to books, internet, information, events and more for children and patrons of all ages!

A woman and a boy pick out books from the children's section of the library. Friends of Libraries Week. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 9d

It's School Bus Safety Week! Thank you school bus drivers for your dedication to keeping our students safe. Everyone has a role to play: Watch for pedestrians; reduce your driving speed in school zones; Stop when you see the flashing red light and stop-arm extended #NSBSW2025

A school bus with its lights off and its stop arm not extended. School Bus Safety Awareness Week. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 12d

October is College Knowledge Month: A month dedicated to high school students applying to college and planning next steps. Check out the Minnesota Goes to College website for videos, checklists, events, and more to help your high schooler plan at bit.ly/MNGTCStudents

October is College Knowledge Month. The perfect month to apply and prepare for the next steps after high school. Minnesota Goes to College.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 13d

We are investing in teacher recruitment and retention with grant funding for Teacher Preparation Programs to plan and implement teacher residency and registered teacher apprenticeship programs. Learn more at education.mn.gov/MDE/DSE/Gran...

Two teachers sit at a table with kids who are playing with wooden toys.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 14d

Encourage your child to ask about words they don’t know. You can even make a “word of the day” game where they learn a new word each day. Emphasize a new word in book or a story. 📚 Find more reading skills tips 👉 education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/lit/ #FamiliesREAD

A dad reads a book to his young daughter. Families READ Encourage Curiosity. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 15d

Minnesota is investing in supports for students, families and communities by increasing the number and capacities of Minnesota's full-service community schools with the Full-Service Community Schools Strategy Competitive Grant Opportunity. Learn more: education.mn.gov/MDE/DSE/Gran....

Full-Service Community Schools Competitive Grant. Funding available for 8-10 three-year grants. Apply by Oct. 24. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 16d

School Lunch Week recognizes the importance of a healthy school lunch for students. In Minnesota, the Free School Meals program provides no-cost meals to Minnesota students at participating schools. Learn more about the Free School Meals Program at education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/FNS/... #NSLW25

Trays with food. School Lunch Week. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 19d

Shoutout to MDE School Health Coordinator Terri Swartout on being honored with the Community Impact Award by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors for her leadership in chronic disease prevention and control! education.mn.gov/MDE/about/ne...

National Assocation of Chronic Disease Directors Community Impact Award Chronic Disease -Individual. Terri Swartout, Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 19d

This Farm to Kids Month Nutrition staff partnered with Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and Minnesota Department of Agriculture to taste test local peppers, greens and apples from Prior Lake-Savage’s Farm to Kids providers Waxwing Farms, Spring Lake Farm and Thompson’s Hilcrest Orchard. #F2SMonth

Nutrition Program Services Director Emily Honer and Farm to School and Early Care Coordinator Jayme Anderson hold an apple and Gov. Tim Walz' proclamation for Farm to Kids Month.

Eight kids sit at the tasting table taste testing apples.

Four girls sit at the tasting table taste testing greens.

Nine kids sit at the tasting table ready to taste test peppers.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 19d

Shoutout to MDE Student Support Personnel Specialist Magan Legasse on being named 2025 Friend of School Social Work by the Minnesota School Social Workers’ Association for her leadership and advocacy, which has made school social work in Minnesota stronger, more connected and better equipped!

Minnesota School Social Workers Association 2025 Friend of School Social Work. Megan Lagasse. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 20d

We are investing in student wellness with grant funding available for districts and schools to assist in developing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan. Districts and schools can learn more and apply by Oct. 23 at education.mn.gov/MDE/DSE/Gran...

Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Assistance Grant. Open to districts, Charter Schools, Tribally Controlled Schools, intermediate school districts, cooperative unites. Apply by Oct. 23. Minnesota Department of Education

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 21d

Lindsey Talbot, Allie Gebauer, Kari Johnson and Heather Harvick from our education finance (Ed-Fi) team presented on how they prioritize data needs for schools, districts and other local education authorities at the Ed-Fi 2025 National Summit.

Lindsey Talbot, Allie Gebauer, Kari Johnson and Heather Harvick stand next to their on screen presentation slide show titled "Lessons Learned in Minnesota"

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 22d

Regularly reading aloud with your child is a great way to model fluency and build listening skills. Use expression, read at a natural pace, and show them how enjoyable reading can be. 📚 Find more reading skills tips 👉 education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/lit/ #FamiliesREAD #Literacy #Fluency

Families READ. Read Aloud Together. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 23d

Thank you to our Minnesota principals for your leadership each day supporting students, families, teachers and staff members! October is National Principals Month, and this week is Minnesota Principals Week! #ThankYouFromMDE

Minnesota Principals Week. Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 23d

Nutrition Program Services Director Emily Honer helped Minneapolis Public Schools celebrate Farm to School at their annual Community BBQ. She and her partner didn’t win the corn shucking contest, but they tried hard! #FarmtoSchool #MNAg

Minnesota Department of Education Nutrition Program Services Director Emily Honer gives a thumbs up next to a young boy hold a certificate that says "aww, shucks" as they stand in front of their corn shucking station.

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Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 23d

Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield spoke this month at the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development symposium on K-12 Chronic Absenteeism.

Assistant Commissioner Mansfield speaks at a podium in front of a screen that reads Attendance Convening October, 2, 2025.

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Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 26d

Congratulations to Reece Kyran Joshi of Minneapolis, a student of Southwest High School, and Julia Lorenzen of Minneapolis, a student of St. Louis Park High School, on being named Presidential Scholars! content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNM...

High five. Congratulations! Minnesota Department of Education.

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 26d

Employers provide experiential learning opportunities for students and offer occupational and industry insights and perspectives. Thank you to our employer partners for supporting the efforts of our CTE and WBL programs throughout the state. education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/cte/...

Advisory Committees and Partnerships

education.mn.gov

Minnesota Department of Education @education.mn.gov · 26d

Employer partners bring value to student personal and professional development through their involvement with Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs.

A man shows a student how to work with a CNC machine.

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