Minnesota created charter schools to spur innovation. Closures and low academic proficiency have plagued them.
More from Investigations
Investigations
How Rhode Island’s charter schools succeeded where Minnesota’s failed
Rhode Island leads the nation in charter school performance. Advocates say adopting some of Rhode Island’s methods might help Minnesota’s struggling charter school system.
September 13, 2024
Twin Cities
Twin Cities charter school fraud took place under direction of school’s current leader, former employees say
The Minnesota Internship Center had 4% attendance and 5% graduation rates, while its leader took co-workers to Topgolf, according to state records and interviews with school insiders.
September 7, 2024
News & Politics
Police raids shed light on Minnesota’s weak laws, fragmented oversight of animal rescues
Proposed law changes have failed in the Legislature in recent years, but some are expected to be considered again in 2025.
August 2, 2024
Investigations
Hennepin County reduced repeat abuse of kids. Are there lessons for rest of Minnesota?
Hennepin County boosted spending on child protection and added workers. The result: lower caseloads and far less repeat abuse. Now it must sustain this success.
December 15, 2023
Investigations
Minnesota's system for helping parents with addiction is full of holes. Kids pay the price.
Pregnancy and birth can be key moments for intervention, but follow-up is uncoordinated and treatment options are failing to meet demand.
December 1, 2023
Investigations
'I could have lived a normal life': Minnesota child abuse victim says protection system failed her
There were 41 reports of abuse and neglect involving Jayma Lawson and her two siblings between 2004 and 2021. Just seven led to investigations. More than half resulted in no action or were referred to a controversial alternative pathway in the Minnesota child protection system.
November 16, 2023
Local
After her daughter died in a chain used for sexual roleplay, a mother set out to find justice
Police found Heather Mayer dead in her boyfriend's basement. The circumstances of her death remain a mystery. But as her mother began digging for the truth, more women came forward with allegations of assault in the Twin Cities bondage community.
June 2, 2023