The New Salem Educational Initiative Blog

Article #3

World’s Best Workforce Programs

To meet World’s Best Workforce (MBWF) requirements of the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State Legislature, officials at the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) must give evidence of programming meant to promote equity and academic achievement among a diversity of demographic groups.

MPS programs cited by officials at the district as meeting WBWF legislative requirements are given in detail below:

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #1

AVID

(Advancement Via

Individual Determination)

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Gaps Closed

Ready for Career and College

Graduation from High School

Budgetary Allocation, Academic Years

Ending in 2017, 2018, and 2019

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$163,000 $3,042,040 $2,942,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-5 & K-8 Middle High

(Elementary School School

AVID) (PREP

& Elective)

981 2,654 1,302

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High

School School

694 1,414 1,734

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,025

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

136

Hispanic >>>>>

426

White >>>>>

248

Total >>>>>

1,921

Check and Connect

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #2

Check & Connect

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2016 2017 2018

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$700,000 $350,000 $350,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School Q1 2016-2017

306 370 1,302

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,098

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

240

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

450

White >>>>>

128

Total >>>>>

1,978

Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Fellows

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #3

Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Fellows

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2016 2017 2018

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$345,929 $236,903 $150,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School T1 2016-2017

----- ----- 430

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School T12017-2018

544

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

378

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

474

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

358

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

544

Fast Track Scholars

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #4

Fast Track Scholars

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2016 2017 2018

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$50,000 $13,000 $13,000

Students Served (Rising 9th)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2016-2017

----- ----- 269

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

----- ----- 189

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

108

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

269

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

109

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

189

GEMs & GISE

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #4

Fast Track Scholars

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2016 2017 2018

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$900,000 $213,000 $213,000

Students Served (Grades K-8)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2015-2016

1,646 676 257 -----

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

2,629 751 736 -----

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

951

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

194

Hispanic >>>>>

513

White >>>>>

839

Total >>>>>

2,581

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,725

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

134

Asian >>>>>

229

Hispanic >>>>>

758

White >>>>>

1,375

Total >>>>>

4,221

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #3

Jobs For America’s Graduates

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Ready for Career and College

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$898,740 $200,000 $0

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School Q1 2016-2017

----- ----- 497

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

167

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

148

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

476

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

107

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

167

Grow Your Own Teacher Residency

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #3

Grow Your Own Teacher Residency

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Budgetary Allocation for Academic Years

Ending in 2017, 2018, and 2019:

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$600,000 $875,000 $100,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2015-2016

450 75 ----- -----

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

1,174 2,520 ----- -----

167

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

248

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

111

White >>>>>

142

Total >>>>>

525

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,847

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

148

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

1,367

White >>>>>

269

Total >>>>>

3,694

Learning Works

>>>>>

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 >>>>>

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

107

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

9 (or fewer--- data inexact)

Asian >>>>>

9 (or fewer--- data inexact)

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

Total >>>>>

Multi-Tiered System of Support

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #9

MTSS/ Culturally Relevant Materials

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Third Graders Reading at Grade Level

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2016 2017 2018

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$0 $1,520,000 $1,576,903

Students Served (K-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

5,072 971 991

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

3,068

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

209

Asian >>>>>

350

Hispanic >>>>>

1,406

White >>>>>

2,001

Total >>>>>

6,984

Office of Black Male Achievement

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #10

Office of Black Male Achievement

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Ready for Career and College

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$310,000 $320,000 $320,000

Students Served (Grades K-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School Q1 2016-2017

(Starts 16 71 120

Q2)

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School Q1 2016-2018

62 25 94 167

Students Served by Race

This program by definition is exclusively for African American males:

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

207

Total >>>>>

207

(Academic Year Ending in 2018

African American >>>>>

348

Total >>>>>

348

Project SUCCESS

>>>>>

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #11

Project Success

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Ready for Career and College

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$275,000 $110,000 $110,000

Students Served (Grades 6-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2016-2017

625 3,354 8,703

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School 2017-2018

1,448 3,413 10,362

Students Served by Race

This program by definition is exclusively for African American males:

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

4,832

American Indian/

Native American

445

Asian

Hispanic

2,179

White

3,743

Total >>>>>

12,142

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

6,439

American Indian/

Native American

618

Asian

992

Hispanic

3,054

White

4,120

Total >>>>>

15,223

Racially identifiable Schools (RIS) Direct Support

>>>>>

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #12

Racially Identifiable Schools (RIS)

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Ready for School

Third Graders Reading at Grade Level

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Ready for Career and College

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$0 $1,800,000 $2,000,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School School 2016-2017

4,115 3,681 928 1,774

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

5,786

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

463

Asian >>>>>

1,043

Hispanic >>>>>

2,465

White >>>>>

766

Total >>>>>

10,537

Spring and Winter Break Academy

>>>>>

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #13

Spring and Winter Break Academy

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Third Graders Reading at Grade Level

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$1,199,783 $60,000 $10,000

Students Served (Grades 4-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School School 2016-2017

Data not broken down by school.

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-5 K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School School 2016-2017

Data not broken down by school.

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,266

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

139

Asian >>>>>

236

Hispanic >>>>>

848

White >>>>>

332

Total >>>>>

2,715

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

1,536

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

105

Asian >>>>>

201

Hispanic >>>>>

1,056

White >>>>>

Urban Debate League

>>>>>

Major (WBWF) Academic Program #14

Urban Debate League

Program for

World’s Best Work Force (WBWF)

Alignment, 2017-2018

Projected WBWF Goals Addressed >>>>>

Third Graders Reading at Grade Level

Racial and Economic Achievement Gaps Closed

Graduation from High School

2017 2018 2019

Budgetary Budgetary Budgetary

Allocation Allocation Allocation

$300,783 $119,000 $119,000

Students Served (Grades 6-12)

Academic Year Ending in 2017

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School School 2015-2016

200 106 116

Academic Year Ending in 2018

K-8 Middle High Academic Year

School School School 2017-2018

101 138 105

Students Served by Race

(Academic Year Ending in 2017)

African American >>>>>

115

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

227

Total >>>>>

424

(Academic Year Ending in 2018)

African American >>>>>

138

American Indian >>>>>

(Native American)

Asian >>>>>

Hispanic >>>>>

White >>>>>

177

Total >>>>>

394

Article #4

Strategic Plan: Acceleration 2020 of the Minneapolis Public Schools

When Ed Graff arrived as Superintendent on 1 July 2019, the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) strategic plan in force at the time was Strategic Plan: Acceleration 2020. This plan was approved at a September 2014 meeting of the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education. Via the program advocated in the pages of the work overseen by then Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson and Chief Executive Officer (now Interim Superintendent) Michael Goar, the public schools of Minneapolis were to advance educational excellence and equity for all students enrolled in the district.

Six high-level goals were given in the document: 1) Improved Student Outcomes; 2) Equity; 3) Family and Community Partnership; 4) Effective Teachers, School Leaders, and Staff; 5) Stewardship; and 6) Resources for Students and Schools.

Goals offered in what was termed the “big, bold spirit of the 5-8-10 plan” included the following, to be attained in the run-up to year 2020:

>>>>> 5 percent annual increase in students overall meeting or exceeding state standards in reading

and math;

>>>>> 8 percent annual increase in students meeting or exceeding state standards in reading

and math for MPS’s lowest performing students;

>>>>> 10 percent annual increase in the four-year graduation rate

Officials at MPS declared that “Our targets are intentionally high to reignite a sense of urgency in the system and ensure that everyone is operating with growth mindset. Meeting these targets is absolutely possible. Under this plan, we will achieve our vision of every child graduating college and career ready.”

Toward the achievement of Goal Number One, Improved Student Outcomes, officials at MPS stress that teachers at Grades Pre-K through Grade 3 should have routines in place for development of student reading and language skills; that teachers at Grade 4 through Grade 12 and for adult learners

should abet the development of such skills via guided academic conversations and “close reading”; and that teachers at Grade 6 through Grade 12 and for adult learners develop students’ math and science vocabulary and content knowledge using “literacy strategies.” Also stressed are core instruction for all categories of learners; personalized learning opportunities; readiness at key points of transition from one major age grouping to another; behavioral interventions that minimize suspensions; and the availability of ethnic studies courses in high school.

Toward the achievement of Goal Number Two, Equity, officials at MPS stress the use of student data as examined and then acted upon by Professional Learning Communities of teachers at each site, problem-based learning and critical thinking; multiple pathways to graduation via dual enrollment, Post-Secondary Options (PSEO), credit recovery, community-based GED and literacy programs, and online learning; and availability of world languages. Associate Superintendents are to monitor progress toward the goal of equity and the given sub-goals; and staff at all schools are to be given proper supports, with enhanced supports at High Priority Schools and Focus Schools.

Toward the achievement of Goal Number Three, Family and Community Partnership,officials at MPS stress engagement with families of students, with appropriate language translation and interpreting services, with training for teachers in communication with families, and with great effort made to provide accessible locations and temporally flexible times for familial participation. They also stress increases in corporate support, grant funding, and volunteers--- with ongoing monitoring of community partnerships for effectiveness.

Toward the achievement of Goal Number Four, Effective Teachers, School Leaders, and Staff, officials at MPS stress the need for diversity in hiring, identification and placement of individuals particularly suited for teaching and staff roles to meet the needs of students at certain schools, and the provision of training and supports for staff in performing to expectation. There is also emphasis placed on providing leadership training and career advancement opportunities; and on implementing Quality Compensation (Q-Comp) to promote staff retention and career development.

Toward the achievement of Goal Number Five, Stewardship, officials at MPS stress accountability on the part of administrators at all levels for the implementation of Strategic Plan: Acceleration 2020 via ongoing assessment of effectiveness and adjustment of strategies as necessary; use of the Baldrige Criteria for Education Organizations as a guide to ongoing staff training in planning, management, decision-making and data collection and utilization; and central office adjustments to abet increased school autonomy.

Toward the achievement of Goal Number Six, Resources for Students and Schools, officials at MPS stress “zero-based budgeting” to assure that funds are used where they are truly needed, with allocations prioritized for the classroom, and with attention to services pertinent to transportation, food security, instructional technology, school environment, and athletics that have a direct impact on students’ lives.

All of these goals were to be attained in the context of an inclination toward school autonomy and upon the conviction that the individual site--- the school--- is the meaningful unit of change and that school staff members should have flexibility to meet the needs of their particular student population.

The New Salem Educational Initiative Blog

Nov 18, 2019

>Journal of the K-12 Revolution: Essays and Research from Minneapolis, Minnesota<, Vol. VI, No. 1, July 2019 >>>>> Article #3

>Journal of the K-12 Revolution: Essays and Research from Minneapolis, Minnesota<, Vol. VI, No. 1, July 2019 >>>>> Article #4

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