Solutions Resources

Solutions that help get more Minnesota children on the path to college range from the small things we do in our local schools and communities to major policy initiatives. Here are some resources to get the ideas flowing and guide you in developing solution strategies of your own. Send Us a Note to tell us about other valuable resources.

Strategic plan recommendations Nov. 2007, Minneapolis Board of Education

The Minneapolis Board of Education is considering nine recommendations that will move the district toward a transformational change that will increase overall student achievement, address the achievement gap among ethnic groups, and aim to prepare all students for college. Also see Star Tribune editorial: Minneapolis schools' plan holds promise

The Bridge to Higher Learning (June 2007), Task Force report from the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals

"The new vision for Minnesota's high schools should be to prepare every student to earn a credential or a degree at a postsecondary educational institution--whether it is a technical school, two-year college, or four-year college or university.... We know from the experience of following the progress of our graduates that too many students start postsecondary careers but do not finish them. This is why our eyes must be on the prize of postsecondary completion for all."

Model High Schools, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Find out what high performing high schools look like. This article links to profiles of more than 20 schools that serve as models of what is working, categorized by traditional, theme-based and student-centered schools. All engage students with a rigorous curriculum, offer relevant coursework and foster relationships between students and adults.

Circles of Influence in Family Development: Educational Disparities PDF (1.5 MB) (Fall 2006), Children, Youth and Family Consortium, University of Minnesota

This ecological model is a visual illustration of the multi-layered influences underlying the issue of educational disparities. It examines the different aspects of educational disparities and the achievement gap that occur in each of the circles of influence that affect children and their families.

Educating Minnesota: Seven not-so-modest proposals that will improve our public schools (June 2006), James P. Lenfestey, Mpls. St. Paul magazine

Lenfestey proposes these seven changes to Minnesota’s public schools:

Expand the school year by five weeks
Lengthen the school day to approximate the work day
Increase resources for schools with large numbers of poor and immigrant students
Fully fund prekindergarten
Go wireless now to incorporate interactive education, individualized instruction and project-based learning
Consolidate school districts to create more effective learning and efficient school spending
Embrace wise alternatives and innovations

2006 State of Students of Color, p. 2-3, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership Inc.

MMEP offers six recommendations to help Minnesota do better by students of color:

Generate a high level of urgency to produce better academically prepared K-12 students
Have the same level of urgency around successful higher education participation for students of color
Never forget that education is, at its fundamental core, a process of human interaction
of color must be part of all efforts to drive better academic outcomes for all students
Develop multiple ways (besides standardized tests) by which we can properly guide and nurture the development of the human mind and spirit
Discuss achievement gaps with an overarching vision for our society and economy

<< These schools may emphasize different subjects, follow different educational philosophies, or build different school cultures, but they share the 3Rs: rigor, relevance, and relationships. >>
Model High Schools, Gates Foundation

See Links to other organizations supporting school success