Education and Learning

Educational opportunities from early childhood through adult learning in Minnesota

Early childhood education

Preschool programs

• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)
• Head Start programs
• School Readiness programs
• Early Learning Scholarships

Early childhood screening

• Schedule screening (ages 3-5)
• Developmental assessments
• Early intervention services
• Help Me Grow resources

Childcare and learning

• Quality rated childcare
• Parent Aware ratings
• Family childcare programs
• Center-based programs

K-12 education

Enrollment

• Find your school district
• School enrollment forms
• Open enrollment options
• School choice programs
• Immunization requirements

Academic programs

• Minnesota Academic Standards
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options)
• Career and technical education

Special education

• Special education services
• IEP process
• 504 plans
• Assistive technology
• Parent rights and advocacy

Alternative education

• Charter schools
• Online schools
• Alternative learning centers
• Homeschooling
• Area learning centers

Testing and assessments

State assessments

• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)
• ACCESS for ELLs
• Alternate assessments
• Test results and data

College entrance exams

• ACT registration
• SAT registration
• Test preparation resources
• Fee waivers

Higher education

Minnesota colleges and universities

• University of Minnesota system
• Minnesota State colleges and universities
• Private colleges
• Community colleges
• Technical colleges

Applying to college

• Application assistance
• College search tools
• Campus visits
• Transfer resources

Financial aid

• FAFSA application
• Minnesota State Grant
• Scholarships database
• Work-study programs
• Student loans

Student support

• Academic advising
• Career services
• Mental health resources
• Disability services

Adult education

Adult basic education

• GED programs
• Adult diploma programs
• English language learning
• Basic skills education

Career training

• Workforce development programs
• Apprenticeships
• Certificate programs
• Retraining opportunities

Continuing education

• Community education
• Senior learning programs
• Online courses
• Professional development

Financial assistance

K-12 support

• Free and reduced lunch
• Educational tax credits
• School supplies assistance
• Activity fee waivers

College financial aid

• Grant programs
• Loan forgiveness
• Emergency assistance
• Veterans education benefits

Teacher and educator resources

Teacher licensing

• License applications
• License renewal
• Out-of-state licenses
• Alternative teacher preparation

Professional development

• Continuing education requirements
• Professional learning communities
• Leadership programs
• National Board Certification

Educator support

• Mentorship programs
• Teacher grants
• Classroom resources
• Educator wellness

Libraries and literacy

Public libraries

• Find your library
• Library cards
• Digital resources
• Interlibrary loans

Literacy programs

• Adult literacy
• Family literacy
• Summer reading programs
• Book mobile services

Educational rights

Student rights

• Attendance laws
• Discipline and suspension
• Bullying prevention
• Privacy rights (FERPA)

Parent rights

• School choice
• Opt-out options
• Access to records
• Participation rights

Resources and support

Academic support

• Tutoring programs
• Homework help
• Study skills
• Test anxiety resources

Crisis support

• School counseling
• Mental health services
• Truancy intervention
• Dropout prevention

Quick links

• School calendar
• Snow day information
• School report cards
• Education data and statistics
• School board information

Contact

Minnesota Department of Education

• Phone: 651-582-8200
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CT

Office of Higher Education

• Phone: 651-642-0567
• Toll-free: 1-800-657-3866
• Email: [email protected]