Graduation Standards—Bane or Blessing?
Graduation Standards—Bane or Blessing? by Ramblin’ Rose Some in Minnesota are celebrating for a second straight year the rise in number of high school graduates. Others contrast that news with the revelation that Minnesota, once the 'Education State,' has fallen again in the national rankings. Josiah Padley, Policy Fellow at Center of the American Experiment, cited the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 findings. Our North Star State is no longer in the top 10; it fell from 7th to 21st from 2021 to 2026, specifically '#7 in 2021, #9 in 2022, #18 in 2023, #19 in 2024 and #17 in 2025.'" How can so many more students 'earn' a high school diploma when their proficiency rates are plummeting. Let hiSTORY tell the 'story.' In the early 1990s, "experts" eliminated the Carnegie Units (course credits) with the claim that they only reflected seat time. The graduation rates were lower, but the proficiency levels were higher. The experts (politicians and...