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Should Immersion Teachers Get More Time to Pass Basic Skills Tests?

Some state legislators and parents believe immersion teachers should have more time to pass the required test in English. What do you think?

Last February, a new state law requiring all public school teachers to pass the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Basic Skills Test took effect. The teacher licensing exams are currently only offered in English. Parents of immersion students were concerned that the level of English proficiency required for the test is not basic and goes beyond conversational English. Before the new law, public school teachers were already required to take the basic skills test but did not have to pass before they began teaching. Under the old law, would-be teachers who failed the test– as about 30 percent did– could get a three-year provisional license that allowed them to teach while trying to get a passing score. "We hold our immersion teachers to the same …

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Melissa Richards de Campana

1:36 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013

Actually, if they are speakers of a language other than English they are given additional time to take the tests. It's given because it's only fair!   more ›

Letter: Not a Candidate, Just Concerned Over LRT and School Resources

"Let’s secure our schools as priority number one before they have far more debt and it is too late."

To the Editor: The Southwest LRT is estimated to cost $1.25 billion just to build. Funding sources are from federal dollars, county and state. The annual cost to operate the SW LRT, over $32 million.⁵ How could this money be used instead for sustaining and improving public schools?  Let’s put priorities and $1.25 billion into context. Here’s a hint of how to improve by showing public school debt for districts touched by the SW LRT. Hopkins¹ debt to approximately the year 2030 is $187,080,032, Minnetonka² $139,169,548, Eden Prairie³ $86,756,927, Minneapolis⁴ $456,316,000. Total debt $869,322,507. Looks like $1.25 billion covers that and then some and there is $32 million annual costs still available to help elsewhere! Hopkins¹ interest …

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David

10:54 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Emily's survey idea has already been done. It's called actual rider statistics. And Busses win hands down. They serve 7 times more riders and a fraction of the cost. They go where the riders need them to go, which a train will not. Even one going from downtown Mpls to the Mall of America doesn't get the ridership supporters claimed it would. What makes them think yet ANOTHER train will? Pixie …   more ›

PatchCast: The Ides of March

This is a video roundup of stories around Patch in the Twin Cities west metro.

Highlights on this Ides of March: Minnetonka's KRTS in-house school news channel makes students the stars, the Hopkins girls basketball team seems to be headed for a state title, at least one St. Louis Park restaurant is struggling with balancing its liquor and food sales and St. Michael Patch gets answers to questions about local nuclear reactor safety. 

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VIDEO: Local Eighth Grade Piano Prodigy

Hopkins West Junior High 8th grader, Bo Peng, shares his love of music.

How do you describe a phenom? In this case, it's a 13-year-old, Hopkins West Junior High eighth grader wearing Nike sneakers, a striped t-shirt, and blending in pretty well with the rest of his fellow students.  But don't be fooled-- Bo Peng may look like an ordinary student, but when put in front of a piano, the ordinary transforms into extraordinary, as his fingers fly across the keys producing concert quality music. According to his band teacher, Danielle Boor, Peng's ability to play great music comes from both natural talent and dedication. “First of all, Bo is very naturally gifted, but besides that he is an extremely hard worker.” Boor goes on to say as Peng, sitting next to her and embarrassed, covers his eyes with his hands, “It's …

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Dan Krolczyk

5:52 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011

You Go, Bo! Very impressive!   more ›

Hopkins Gymnastics Competes in Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie hosted squad on Tuesday night.

Hopkins High School gymnasts traveled to Eden Prairie for a Tuesday night competition. 

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