Jeffrey Meitrodt
Reporter
InvestigationsPreviously, Meitrodt was an investigative reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He also covered the Illinois statehouse for the Chicago Tribune. He grew up in southeastern Minnesota and graduated in 1984 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. He has won national journalism awards for his reporting on public corruption in Louisiana and Illinois, and for his coverage of corporate misconduct and educational disparities in Minnesota.
Latest from Jeffrey Meitrodt
News & Politics
Oops. Officials at troubled charter school admit $2 million budget blunder
STEP Academy has a $34,000 deficit, not $2 million as initially reported. But the charter school, one of Minnesota’s largest, still faces financial problems.
October 25, 2024
News & Politics
STEP Academy leaders resign as charter school faces financial collapse
If STEP Academy, a charter school with campuses in St. Paul and Burnsville, shuts down, it would be the largest charter school failure in Minnesota history.
October 22, 2024
Twin Cities
One of state’s largest charter schools is at war with regulators, on brink of collapse
STEP Academy, which has campuses in St. Paul and Burnsville, faces a deep financial crisis.
October 18, 2024
Minneapolis
Troubled charter school closes in Minneapolis
LoveWorks Academy for Arts closed abruptly this month in Minneapolis after years of low academic scores and struggling finances.
September 17, 2024
News & Politics
State Education Department fails to turn over charter schools data to Minnesota Star Tribune
The Star Tribune requested data last February. The agency still hasn’t turned over more than 2,000 files.
September 16, 2024
Investigations
Most Minnesota charter schools are failing to make good on their promises
Minnesota created charter schools to be more independent than their public school counterparts, allowing them to innovate and better help struggling students. But the lack of oversight often leads to financial mismanagement and fewer resources when things go wrong.
September 14, 2024
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
Investigations
When Minnesota charter schools fail, vulnerable students pay the price
Hundreds of Minnesota students are caught up each year in the often sudden shuttering of charter schools. School leaders say the closings create a cycle that sets more schools and students up for failure.
September 13, 2024
News & Politics
State Education Department fails to turn over charter schools data to Minnesota Star Tribune
The Star Tribune requested data last February. The agency still hasn’t turned over more than 2,000 files.
September 16, 2024
Investigations
Most Minnesota charter schools are failing to make good on their promises
Minnesota created charter schools to be more independent than their public school counterparts, allowing them to innovate and better help struggling students. But the lack of oversight often leads to financial mismanagement and fewer resources when things go wrong.
September 14, 2024
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
Investigations
When Minnesota charter schools fail, vulnerable students pay the price
Hundreds of Minnesota students are caught up each year in the often sudden shuttering of charter schools. School leaders say the closings create a cycle that sets more schools and students up for failure.
September 13, 2024