The Minnesota Department of Education identified 371 public schools in need of strong support based on a combination of standardized test scores, attendance rates, English proficiency and graduation rates.

The state this week updated its Polaris accountability system for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020. We will release more information on Thursday, including statewide test scores.

In addition to the problems caused by the pandemic, such as difficulties in tracking attendance and low test participation rates in 2021, the fact that these assessments were not done in 2020 has prompted state education leaders to challenge the methodology. is now adjusted slightly.

But it retains the same goal as in 2018: identifying which schools are most in need of support from the state’s limited resources.

“While our lives are returning to a sense of normality, our school will continue to support our students to get them where they are and where they need to be by the end of the school year. We know you need them,” School Board member Heather Mueller said in a statement.

The Department of Education did not make Mueller available for interviews before press time.

According to this year’s report, 43 schools fell short on all counts. The Department of Education will provide training to staff at these schools and support from local Centers of Excellence over the next three years.

Officials said 64 schools identified in the 2018 report had shown some progress but would continue to receive support.

The state’s four-year graduation rate, which has been slowly rising in recent years, will drop slightly in 2021. Still, the Department of Education identified 103 high schools where her four-year graduation rate was below 67%, qualifying her for further assistance.

For the first time, the ministry has provided additional support to high schools where the majority of students are referred to credit recovery programs.

“These statewide assessment results reinforce what we already know. Students, families, school communities and educators must continue to respond to this moment,” Mueller said in a news release. said in