The Minnesota Department of Education released updated MCA test scores on Friday. For the third year in a row, the numbers remain nearly flat: only 45.2% of students are meeting grade-level standards in math, and 49.6% are meeting standards in reading.

Senator Bill Lieske released the following statement:

“When half of Minnesota kids are not meeting basic standards in reading and math, it’s a clear signal we need to get back to the fundamentals. Parents send their children to school to gain the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for life. That should be our focus every single day.

“As a legislator and a dad, I want to see classrooms where kids are learning the basics that they need, teachers are supported, and families know their children are being set up for success. It is time to refocus on the core skills students need, reduce the mandates that are putting schools in impossible positions, and move away from political debates in the classroom. It is time to put students first.”