As more students skip state tests, experts warn school scores may be misleading 

Heading inside your schools, KSTP is looking at the number of Minnesota students who are not taking the state assessment exams. According to a new study, that number continues to grow. 

“They want schools to hit 95% of their students taking the test, and the number of schools in Minnesota that isn’t hitting that 95% mark has tripled, more than tripled since 2019,” said Jake Schwitzer with NorthStar Policy Action.

Schwitzer headed up the review of last year’s Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) report on the 2024-2025 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA).   

The researchers found not only are more and more districts falling below the federally mandated number of students taking the state assessments, but as many as 60% of students are opting out of, or just not showing up to take, the reading tests and almost 75% for the math tests.

“Minnesota is not alone....