LearningWorks >>>>> Article #8 in a Multi-Article Series >>>>> Programs Projected to Raise Academic Achievement of Students in the Minneapolis Public Schools--- With No Viable Hope of Doing So

This article is the seventh article in a series presenting figures for programs identified by the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) administration and MPS Board of Education as the key initiatives of the MPS district to raise student achievement levels, especially those for African American, Hispanic, American Indian (Native American), Somali, and Hmong students, for which not even 25% meet grade level standards on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs).

 

Most of these programs have been in place for many years, with meager results.  

 

Other than these programs, the Superintendent Ed Graff administration is placing its hopes on the training of staff and students in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), the use of Culturally Relevant Materials (CRM), and the implementation of a new reading curriculum for grades PK-5.

 

For reasons that I have detailed in past articles posted on this blog, none of the programs articulated by the Graff administration and approved by the MPS Board of Education is adequate to the task of raising student achievement levels or imparting a knowledge-intensive, skill-replete education. 

 

These observations will be discussed at length in my substantially complete book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect, for which I will continue to post snippets in the run-up to publication this coming May 2018.

 

The program under review here is LearningWorks at Blake, a partnership between the Minneapolis Public Schools and The Blake School.  The program began in the summer of 2000 for the purpose of preparing students for college and post-college life.  LearningWorks participants meet on weekends and during the summer.   Students participate for two-years, covering 500 hours of academic enrichment programming.   Minneapolis Public Schools participants must be highly-motivated Minneapolis Public School students who identify as serious students.  LearningWorks teachers are high school seniors and college-age students who participate in an intensive training program and, while learning the teacher’s art, aim to exert positive peer-pressure on those aspiring to attend college.  Follow-up data indicate that seventy-five percent of LearningWorks teachers go on to pursue careers in teaching.  Among LearningWorks student participants, ninety-nine percent graduate from high school on time and eighty-three percent go on to college.

 

For meeting World’s Best Workforce regulations established by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), LearningWorks is indicated for the categories Close Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps, Ready for Career and College, and Graduation from High School.

 

But the program is offered only to approximately 100 students in grades 6-12;  thus, the Learning Works program has substantial value but only for an extraordinarily limited number of students.

 

The impression continues to build with the review of each program purported to raise overall achievement levels that MPS decision-makers dwell in a fantasy world, are cynical in advancing programs that they know cannot work, or are joltingly incompetent.

 

Consider now the data pertinent to Grow Your Own MPS Teacher Residency: 

 

>>>>>   

 

Program for                                       

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

 

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #8

 

LearningWorks at Blake

 

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed  >>>>>

 

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

 

Ready for Career and College

 

Graduation from High School

 

Budgetary Allocation for Academic Years

Ending in 2017, 2018, and 2019:

 

2017                            2018                      2019

Budgetary           Budgetary          Budgetary

Allocation           Allocation          Allocation          

 

 $50,000                 $25,000               $25,000               

 

Students Served (Grades 6-12)

 

Data are not kept for specific grade level

breakdown, thus yielding the following presentation:

 

Academic Year Ending in 2017                  

 

K-5          K-8         Middle        High         Academic Year

                                School        School        2015-2016

                           

Data not broken down by school

 

Academic Year Ending in 2018                  

 

K-5              K-8        Middle        High         Academic Year

                                   School        School        2017-2018

                           

                Data not broken down by school

 

                           

 

                                        

 

Students Served by Race                                                             

 

(Academic Year                Ending in 2017)

 

 

African American    >>>>>

 

41

 

American Indian     >>>>>

(Native American)

 

   2

 

Asian >>>>>

 

   9

 

Hispanic >>>>>

 

 19

 

White  >>>>>

 

 34

 

Total  >>>>>

 

107

 

 

(Academic Year                Ending in 2018)

 

African American    >>>>>

 

32

 

American Indian     >>>>>

(Native American)

 

   9 (or fewer---  data inexact)

 

Asian >>>>>

 

    9 (or fewer---  data inexact)

 

 

Hispanic >>>>>

 

  22

 

White  >>>>>

 

  28

 

Total  >>>>>

 

  91