Kare11
Minnesota judge approves new ethnic studies standard
Judge Eric Lipman recommended the adoption of most of the new standards into Minnesota’s social studies curriculum, with one notable exception.
Editor’s Note: This video aired Nov. 8, 2023.
On Tuesday, an administrative law judge approved new standards for teaching social studies, including an ethnic studies strand. Here’s what that means for teachers and students.
Per state statute, these academic standards must be evaluated every ten years. According to the report, the notable changes this time around include standards for career and college readiness, increased opportunities to learn about the history of Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples, and an ethnic studies strand.
The ethnic studies strand has sparked the most reaction from Minnesotans. Democrats have largely been in support of adding it into classrooms while some Republicans have opposed it, arguing that it’s not part of state law.
After presiding over public hearings Nov. 8 and 9, Judge Eric Lipman recommended the adoption of most of the new standards, with one notable exception.
The judge rejected a sub-section that instructs students to “use ethnic and Indigenous studies, methods and sources in order to understand the roots of contemporary systems of oppression and apply lessons from the past in order to eliminate historical and contemporary injustices.”
The report on the new standards and Judge Lipman’s ruling says this subsection is too vague and suggests two language-changing options that could improve it.
Chief Administrative Law Judge Jenny Starr agreed with Lipman’s findings, and says if the Department of Education decides to make changes to the subsection it can “resubmit the rule for further review.”
The new standards are scheduled to take effect in fall 2026.
Education Minnesota, the organization that represents public school teachers across the state, lauded Judge Lipman’s ruling, saying the revised standards “will prepare the next generations of Minnesotans to understand our shared history.”
“The proposed social studies standards, including the ethnic studies strand, will provide the framework educators can use to present the parts of American history that have been suppressed or whitewashed while retaining the inspirational stories in which our nation lived up to its ideals,” said Education Minnesota President Denise Specht in a released statement.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.
United Airlines passenger attacked while sleeping on flight from San Francisco: “His face was bruised and bloody”
Trump’s net worth slumps by as much as $2.4 billion amid DJT stock plunge
U.S. imposes sanctions on top members of armed wing of Mexican cartel linked to 2019 killings of 9 Americans
United Airlines passenger attacked while sleeping on flight from San Francisco: “His face was bruised and bloody”
Trump’s net worth slumps by as much as $2.4 billion amid DJT stock plunge