Sen. Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge)
Republicans in the Minnesota Senate want the legislature to pass several controversial education reforms in 2016. High school graduates would have to achieve certain reading and math scores on standardized exams, and “early learning scholarships” from the state would go directly to families, rather than schools. Cambridge Senator Sean Nienow says the proposals should get serious consideration “if people are concerned about the real challenges that we have in our education system, and getting better outcomes without necessarily having to even spend more money.” Graduation standards have sparked ongoing debate at the State Capitol, as have any proposals that even smack of “school vouchers.”