Anderson & Turpin commented on the information recently disseminated by the Maple River Education Coalition about Mpls schools. I contacted Jim Grathwol, the legislative liason forMPS, for a reply. It follows.
Please note Jim's paragraph about his efforts to get MREdCo to stop disseminating incorrect information. linda higgins northside Dear Senator Higgins; MPS does not force students to choose careers in 8th grade. Any one who says this is mistaken or intentionally misrepresenting how school choice works in districts operating under school desegration plans and schools implementing High School reforms called "Small Learning Communities" - an effort to move away from large anonymous highschool settings. Our Small Learning Communities initiative is supported by a MacArthur grant and is focused on delivering rigorous academic standards and improving the graduation rate of our students by creating a structure that supports more personal attention to students from teaching staff. The MPS SLC principles include: 1. Small personalized learning communities (150 students) 2. Expanded educational choices 3. Autonomous within district parameters 4. High expectations and rigorous achievement 5. Relevant, interdisciplinary curriculum, instruction and assessment 6. Technology integrated as a teaching tool 7. Ongoing professional development for staff 8. Family involvement 9. Shared leadership 10. Support student transitions to, within and beyond highschool 11. Accountability measures to ensure progress towards goals Examples of small learning communities at highschools in your district: North Arts and Communication SummaTech 9-10 Grade House Patrick Henry Int'l Baccalaureate Engineering and Technology Commercial/Fine Arts Each high school learning community delivers all of the state required and elective academic standards. Given the repeal of the profile there will be some adjustment to acommodate new standards. SLC's are organized around themes to engage student interst in learning and provide relevance. In Minneapolis all students have the oppportunity to CHOOSE their High school. They may choose the highschool of their attendance area or choose another high school program offered as part of a desegregation magnet program. Now students may choose from among 37 Small Learning Communities at 7 High Schools. 21 are offered city wide and 16 are offered by attendance areas. In most communities in the state one attends high school on the basis of one's attendance area. In 2002-03 out of a universe of 3,200 Minneapolis 8th graders, 92% completed the 8th Highschool application process indicating their preference for up to three Small Learning Communities. Of those completing applications 74% received their first choice. 8% of those applying (256) did not receive any of their three choices and were assigned to an SLC of their highschool attendance area. The 8% who did not apply also were assigned in the same manner (primarily ELL and Special ED). I should note that most students in the state are assigned highschool in this manner. With respect to the specific concerns addressed: 1) Required Career Pathway: No one chooses a career pathway. Almost everyone actively chooses a highschool program. They also chose a Kindergarten program, or a K-8 or a Middle school program over the course of their academic career with MPS. No one has a career path. The goal of SLC's is to help deliver rigorous standards in a relevant fashion to engage students in learning and increase graduation rates. 2) Career options are limited: See above. 3) Large numbers denied choice preference. Incorrect. 74% got 1st choice in 02-03. 10% got 2nd or third choice. For the students where assignments are made it is on the very same basis that most students in the state are assigned a highschool program: residence attendance area. 4) Education shifted to serve needs of work: No. Education is centered around state's required and elective high school academic standards. I have spoken with Senator Michelle Bachman about misprepresenting the Minneapolis High School Choice system and our Small Learning Communities reform intitiatives in a pamphlet produced by the Senator. I have also spoken with Dr. Karen Efrem about similar misrepresentations made in public comments before a legislative committee by Dr. Karen Efrem. I have offered to met with Senator Bachman throughout the legislative session but met with no success. I have invited Dr. Efrem to visit and experience high schools in Minneapolis but have not had any response to that invitation. I am copying this message to Julie Quist at the Maple River Education Coalition, the source of the comments you are asking me to respond to and request that Ms. Quist and her organization stop misrepresenting the initiatives underway in Minneapolis to boost achievement and graduation rates. I am also copying this communication to Alan Giles, MPS General Counsel. In closing, we are not career tracking children at Minneapolis Public Schools. Our focus is on getting more students to a higher standard of achievement and getting more students to graduate. Small Learning Communities organized around rigorous standards are a valuable tool to accomplish both goals. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide. Thanks for bringing this matter to my attention. Sincerely, Jim Grathwol TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
