Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools: Current Condition, Future Prospect >>>>> Introduction, Part Two >>>>> Facts, Analysis, and Philosophy

Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect 

Introduction

Part Two:  Facts, Analysis, Philosophy

This book proceeds in three parts:  Facts, Analysis, and Philosophy.

 

Part One, Facts, gives meticulous detail on the following:

 

>>>>>    organizational structure of the Minneapolis Public Schools, including general counsel, chief of staff, superintendent, and chiefs of major central office positions (academics, teaching, and learning;  research, innovation, and accountability;   finance;  operations;  communications;  information, human resources)

 

>>>>>    descriptions of all major divisions, departments, and offices (academic affairs, teaching and learning,  black male achievement, Indian education, college and career readiness, finance, communications, information, general counsel, data requests, operations, student/family/ community engagement, homeless and highly mobile, and athletics---  along with major programs and purposes as given by the divisions, departments, and offices themselves

 

>>>>>    presentation of committee organization, districts, and  all matters pertinent to the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education

 

>>>>>    presentation of organizational structure, publications, guiding principles, political advocacy, contract negotiations, and  all matters pertinent to the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT)

 

>>>>>    professional credentials of major office holders at the Davis Center (central offices,1250 West Broadway)

 

>>>>>    teacher contract, step and lane remuneration structure, and teacher professional development

 

>>>>>    credentials and university-based training of teachers

 

>>>>>    student academic outcomes as measured by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) and Multiple Measurement Rating System (MMRS)

 

>>>>>    college and career readiness, including graduation rates and post-graduation experiences of students

 

>>>>>    school by school analysis of student body, student performance, and teaching staff

 

>>>>>    volunteer and tutoring programs

 

>>>>>    athletics, extracurricular, and after-school programming

 

>>>>>    finance, including expenditure, sources of revenue, and fiscal policy

 

>>>>>    public education context, including university teacher and administrator preparation, public awareness, media coverage, and public school competitors (charter schools, private schools, parochial schools)

Part Two, Analysis,features my critical examination of the above-given facets of the Minneapolis Public Schools, delivered with the candor witnessed in my initial comments above, with great attention to the factual situation that will be evident in Part One.

Part Three, Philosophy, presents competing educational philosophies, advocates for knowledge intensity, and details my five-part program toward the overhaul of curriculum and teacher training for the impartation of knowledge-intensive education to students of all demographic descriptors. 

My program for transformation of the Minneapolis Public Schools into a model for the locally centralized school district will feature these five parts:

>>>>>    curriculum overhaul

 

>>>>>    teacher training

 

>>>>>    academic remediation (well-articulated, cohesive tutoring program)

 

>>>>>    outreach to students and families right where they live, for the delivery of
direct services and resource referral 

 

>>>>>    bureaucratic paring >>>>>  heavy reduction of central office (Davis Center)
staffing and expenditures

 

Readers of Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect, will at book’s end have a firm grasp of the inner workings of this school district, with regard to current guiding purpose, organizational structure, philosophy, teachers, administrators, and other staff.

Most importantly, readers will have a vision of knowledge-intensive K-12 education for delivery by the Minneapolis Public Schools that will send students forth upon graduation to live as culturally enriched, civically prepared and professionally fulfilled citizens.