KARE 11 Investigates: More Minnesota students failing classes during pandemic
Survey of Minnesota school districts finds course failure rates have doubled or tripled at many schools with the highest disparities among distance learners.
Author: Lauren Leamanczyk
Updated: 10:30 PM CST December 9, 2020
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Sandra Mortensen, a Bloomington school counselor, uses snacks like cookies and donuts to reach kids in danger of falling through distance learning’s cracks.
In her more than 20 years she says she’s never seen so many kids face so many challenges.
“Some of them are caring for younger siblings. Some of them are maybe in homes that are more crowded - that maybe aren’t able to accommodate five or six kids studying independently,” she explained.