DFL school-board endorsee dispute: guilt by association?
In recent days a fight has broken out over whether DFL-endorsed candidates can appear at events, pose for photos or otherwise share a platform with non-endorsed candidates.
Beth Hawkins
Beth Hawkins covered education and other public-policy topics for MinnPost from its launch in 2007 to October of 2015, when she left to write for Education Post, a nonprofit based in Chicago.
Schools clear the decks to try step-by-step approach to teaching reading
This year, McKnight will spend $6 million on an ambitious overhaul of early-grades literacy begun in seven metro area schools in 2012.
Minnesotans give higher ratings to schools now than they did 40 years ago
Two-thirds of Minnesotans today describe their schools as good, compared to 45 percent in 1974. The number rating them as excellent has risen from 10 percent to 13 percent.
Student tests: Should Minnesota drop some (and if so, which?) — or maybe use two in tandem?
The Department of Education would like to keep the MCAs and pare back on other tests, including the NWEAs. Many in the research and evaluation community would like to do the opposite.
MPS’ suspension ban for youngest students part of effort to reduce glaring racial disparities in discipline
While applauding Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson for making the move, some district insiders suggested it was long overdue.
Former MPS board member Chris Stewart to blog for Education Post
Stewart has remained focused on education, working through the African American Leadership Forum to organize school-board candidate forums.
The magic of Karner Blue
Built and operated by a consortium of northeast Twin Cities school districts, this first-of-its kind education center has been specifically designed to serve disabled students, many with challenges related to sensory issues.
Let’s be clear: MCAs matter, and they reveal continuing student-achievement disparities
This year’s numbers again confirm a depressing truth: Minnesota has some of the largest disparities in the country.
Generation Next plan: Start screenings at age 3, tutoring in 3rd grade, life planning in high school
R.T. Rybak: “We are focused on five outcomes: Every child ready for kindergarten; meets benchmarks in third-grade reading; meets math benchmarks by eighth grade; graduates from high school and post-secondary certification.”
‘American Promise’: an unvarnished tale of two boys’ struggles with school
The documentary will be shown here next week, accompanied by discussions and a talk by the boys’ parents, who made the film.
It’s been a very long slog, but swimming equity gets a boost with new pool plans
“The hard-fought win — and it was hard fought — is we’re definitely, positively getting a pool in Phillips,” said Denny Bennett.
Lots of summer job switching in local education media
There have been a number of changes in the education media landscape. In both our fair central cities, the school year will open with a different cast of characters.
With a new MPS master plan in the works, does anyone remember the old one?
In recent months board members have made no secret of their collective frustration with the pace of implementation of many bold, promising strategies.
MPS’ 2007 Strategic Plan: How much did they accomplish?
The 2007 strategic plan set forth a sweeping vision: Make every child college ready by 2012. Now, with a new version of the plan in the works, it’s time to revisit its highlights.
School board’s approval of $375,000 contract for Al Flowers-related group drawing questions
The founder of the Community Standards Initiative is community activist Al Flowers, an MPS critic whose name is in the headlines this week.
Michael Walker might have the toughest job in Minneapolis
The new head of Minneapolis Public Schools’ Office of Black Male Student Achievement is tasked with closing the biggest opportunity gap in the country. But his first job may be to rebuild trust.
Dark money in Minneapolis school-board race; fewer donations going to individual candidates
So who is spending and where? Since we’re talking about dark money, what follows is going to be an approximation.
Facebook follies: 2012 backbiting finds its way into ’14 school-board race
In terms of hyper-local politics, it might be helpful to think of the Internet as a house made of very thin glass.
MPS school-board races: All the usual dynamics are missing
Will community groups rush in to breathe life into the races? Or will the contests drop further into obscurity?
It’s musical-chairs time at Minneapolis Public Schools
Among the moves: Associate Superintendent Sara Paul is departing to become the No. 2 in White Bear Lake, and Michael Walker will head the Office of Black Male Student Achievement.
