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It’s clear that “back-to-school” will take on a whole new meaning this academic year.

Minnesota consistently ranks among the highest-performing states when it comes to education quality, but there are persistent, significant gaps in the achievement of certain groups of Minnesota students as compared to others. Here, we’re digging into some of the state-testing data and leading research to provide a 30,000-foot view of this complicated, controversial issue.

Anyone who has lived in a small town knows how strong the ties of community are. Rural communities have so much to offer, but they also face some unique challenges. And especially in recent decades, some of these communities have watched the standby industry dry up or move away; dealt with the consequences of generational poverty; or seen population demographics shift significantly.