The Achievement Gap

New Schools proposal

Ted Kolderie and Curt Johnson describe a major reform – a "New Schools" proposal - now being considered by the Minnesota Legislature. 

By empowering teachers, parents and the community (a) to decide the kind of school and (b) to operate the school, district school boards could create new and different models of schools.These "site-governed" schools would select staff, determine the leadership model, and control the budget.   They would be "charter-like" schools, but be within the district framework. 

The legislation would also create a new state-level leadership entity called " New Schools Minnesota ."  A non-profit organization, its board would be appointed by the Governor, the House and the Senate, and be chaired by the Commissioner of Education. 

Summary: Jeremiah Program - helping single moms to help their kids

Feb. 13, 2009 

Presenters: Father Michael O'Connell and CEO Gloria Perez of the Jeremiah Program
 

Fr. Michael

(A brief history) 

A committee at St. Mark’s was putting together a childcare program for low-income moms who were going to MCTC. During the day, St. Marks thought they could use their school to do childcare. I was on this early board. We were feeling good that we could provide this really good childcare while the mother was going to school. It seemed like if we could just solve that, the mother could do four semesters and get her career job. The problem was, so many women would starve and drop out of school.

Commentary: A New Title I

From a 'Hodgepodge of Efforts' to a Targeted K-3 Program
By Edward Zigler

Long before his inauguration, President Barack Obama was signaling his intention to attack government waste and inefficiency. On “Meet the Press” in December, he talked about “pork coming out of Congress,” declaring: “Those days are over.” He has been clear and consistent in saying that he wants the federal government to stop funding programs able to produce little evidence that they succeed.

In the spirit of these messages of change, I offer the new president a recommendation about the federal role in education. In involves the nation’s largest investment aimed at improving the educational trajectory of poor children: Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known currently as the No Child Left Behind Act.

Summary: Les Fujitake on Demographic Changes, the Economic Crisis and the Achievement Gap

Jan. 30, 2009

Les Fujitake, Bloomington Schools Superintendent:

Minnesota has one of the largest achievement gaps in the country. You can have a great school system, but if the playing field isn’t level because of poverty—when basic needs aren’t met—children can’t perform in school. Children aren’t ready because of the lack of early childhood programs, because of language differences at home, environment, segregation and mobility. These are challenges that all communities face.