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Committee considers bill to stop counting MCA opt‑outs as nonproficient in district reports
Summary
Senate File 1899 would require the Minnesota Department of Education to stop including students who exercise their legal right to opt out of MCAs as zeros in North Star proficiency calculations. Bloomington and Minneapolis witnesses told the committee that counting opt‑outs as nonproficient depresses reported scores and harms staff morale.
Senate File 1899, presented to the Minnesota Senate Education Committee, would direct the Commissioner of Education to amend statewide accountability calculations so that students who opt out of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are not treated as nonproficient in North Star academic achievement calculations.
Proponent testimony focused on three themes: staff morale, misleading public reporting and unfair penalties for districts with high opt‑out rates. The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus measure.
Bloomington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Melby told the committee that counting opt‑outs as nonparticipating or nonproficient undermines staff morale and creates…
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