One of the most rewarding parts of serving as superintendent is seeing the hard work of our students and staff translate into progress. Behind every assessment score are teachers refining their instruction, staff supporting student needs, students giving their best effort, and families partnering with us along the way.
The recently released 2026 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) results give us several reasons to celebrate at Blue Earth Area Schools. While test scores are only one measure of student learning, they help us recognize our successes and identify opportunities for continued growth.
Celebrating Progress in Reading, Math, and Science
BEA Elementary students achieved 49.2% proficiency in reading, exceeding the statewide average of 48.6%. Because Minnesota introduced a new reading assessment, we do not have directly comparable results from previous years. However, this is an encouraging milestone for our students and staff.
Our third graders achieved 72.1% proficiency in math, compared with the state average of 57.9%. In science, our tenth graders reached 55.4% proficiency, well above Minnesota’s 36.6%. Districtwide, math proficiency increased by 3.6 percentage points and science proficiency by 8.7 percentage points.
These results are worth celebrating, and our elementary reading achievement provides a particularly meaningful opportunity to recognize the work happening in our classrooms.
The Work Behind the Reading Results: Minnesota’s READ Act
In 2023, Minnesota passed the Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, bringing significant changes to how schools approach literacy instruction. The law emphasizes evidence-based practices, including structured literacy, which explicitly and systematically teaches the essential skills students need to become successful readers.
This includes phonics, decoding, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The READ Act also emphasizes identifying students who need additional support and using evidence-based interventions to help them progress.
Over the past two years, our BEA educators have dedicated substantial time and energy to READ Act training, strengthening their understanding of structured literacy and applying what they learn to classroom instruction. This work requires ongoing professional development, collaboration, and a willingness to refine established practices. Our teachers have embraced this important responsibility because they understand that strong reading skills are foundational to success in every subject area.
While many factors contribute to student achievement, the progress we are seeing is encouraging as our staff continues this important work.
Progress Is a Team Effort
Improving student achievement is ongoing work. We celebrate our successes while continuing to examine assessment data, identify learning gaps, strengthen instruction, and provide the support students need to grow. Our commitment extends beyond one grade level or subject area. We want every student at BEA to experience growth, develop confidence in their abilities, and have the skills and opportunities necessary to reach their full potential.
I am incredibly proud of the hard work happening throughout our district. Thank you to our teachers for their dedication to their craft, our support staff for the many ways they contribute to student learning, our students for their effort and perseverance, and our families for their continued partnership.
These results are worth celebrating, but even more important is the work behind them and the commitment to keep moving forward. At BEA, we will continue learning, growing, and working together to help every Buccaneer succeed.
Go Bucs!