Lack of Progress Report

Nearly 4,900 high school seniors might not graduate in Minnesota because they have not passed state-mandated reading or writing tests. The shocking number amounts to about 8 percent of all seniors tested. Even more stunning -- it shows no improvement from last year's results.

The students are allowed to retake the tests after waiting six weeks.

Targeted

Star-Trib writer Daarel Burnette reports that school administrators estimate the St. Paul school board will have to lay off hundreds of employees and cut multiple programs in an effort to meet an anticipated $25 million shortfall next year. Administrators put most of the blame on legislators who have proposed deep cuts in the state's public school systems this session. St. Paul Superintendent Silva: "We did not expect that St. Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth schools would be targeted in the way that we have been targeted this legislative session."