Newly released data from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) shows fewer than half of all students in Minnesota are proficient in reading, math, and science as the future of education becomes a major issue in this year’s campaign for governor.
According to 2026 data from the Minnesota Report Card, MDE’s online portal for student achievement scores, just 48.6% of students are proficient in reading. Meanwhile, only 44.9% are proficient in math and just 25.5% are proficient in science.
Data from the Minnesota Report Card shows math proficiency has hovered between 44% and 45% since 2022 while science proficiency was 26.2% last year. Similarly, reading proficiency was at 51% in 2022 and dropped to 49.5% by 2025.
Minnesota’s abysmal education scores have been the subject of debate for years with Republicans hammering DFL Gov. Tim Walz for the poor scores. In 2018, the year Walz was elected, 59.9% of students were proficient in reading and 57.2% were proficient in math.
As expected, test scores have now become a major issue in the state’s race for governor.
“Under Tim Walz, fewer than half of Minnesota students are proficient in math and reading, according to data released today from the latest round of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment testing,” Republican gubernatorial nominee Lisa Demuth said Wednesday.
Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and a former school board member, is running on a platform to make Minnesota a “Top 10” state for education.
Among her proposals, Demuth wants to increase school safety funding, empower parents in their child’s education, lessen state mandates, and “remove ‘woke’ standards adopted by the Walz status quo and replace them with evidence-based math and [phonics].”
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the DFL nominee for governor, appeared to react to the new test scores in a social media post Wednesday evening.
“I have a plan to get student achievement up and screen time in the classroom down,” Klobuchar said. “That includes using evidence-based approaches to drive real results in reading and math, small group tutoring, and boosting attendance.”
Klobuchar’s education plan includes support for “evidence-based curriculum in elementary classrooms,” small-group tutoring, and a ban on cellphones in K-12 classrooms.
Throughout the campaign, Demuth has described a potential Klobuchar administration as a “Walz Third Term.” Demuth echoed that sentiment on Wednesday, saying Klobuchar “would continue Walz’s failed education policies. Minnesota deserves better than Tim Walz 2.0.”
A four-term member of the Senate, Klobuchar is considered the favorite to win the governor’s office given her high name-ID and the state’s left-leaning politics. However, a September poll showed the race is within the margin of error: Klobuchar at 47%, Demuth at 45%.
Another September poll had Demuth trailing Klobuchar by 7 points.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor since 2006. Nevertheless, the widespread welfare fraud that has occurred under DFL rule in Minnesota has given Republicans, including Demuth, a unique opportunity to win a statewide office for the first time in 20 years.
With Election Day fast approaching, Demuth and Klobuchar are expected to participate in at least two debates, one hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the other, a televised debate, hosted by FOX 9.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
