A year ago, AMSD featured a research piece in the February 2011 Connections newsletter about business partnerships.  The partnership initiative was first announced by Governor Mark Dayton in his inaugural address and then mentioned again at the AMSD 2011 Legislative Preview.  One of AMSD’s districts, Intermediate District 287, was listening to the Governor’s call and immediately changed their school marquee to reflect that their schools were “eager to be adopted.”

Fast forward a year later and on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, Intermediate District 287 served as the host site for the Governor’s launch of the Adopt-A-Schools program and was one of the first recipients of the partnership award.

Awards were also given to Parasole Restaurant Group and TE Connectivity for their work at Intermediate District 287.   The partnership between Parasole Restaurant Group and Intermediate District 287 gained national attention this year when students collaborated with a Parasole chef to create “Porcupine Sliders” for First lady Obama’s Recipe for Healthy Kids contest and won first place.  TE Connectivity has partnered with the district on their C-Train program where students earn high school credit while developing skills in careers like nursing, fiber optics and business management.  Intermediate District 287 cites almost 30 business partnerships that exist today.

The Minnesota Department of Education has developed a tool kit for schools and businesses interested in partnerships.  Information about the program and the tool kit can be found at: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Welcome/AdoptASch/index.html

This week Governor Dayton gave his State of the State Address and in his speech told lawmakers “The key to our future, as we all know, is education.” He cited alternative licensure, the expansion of early childhood education, principal and teacher evaluation, the per-pupil $50 increase and the enactment of the reading by third grade initiative as successful education policy and funding reforms from the 2011 session.  He praised the efforts of Commissioner Cassellius and the legislature on receiving the No Child Left Behind Waiver and Race to the Top award.  The Governor concluded his education remarks with a warning to legislators, “The best education for all Minnesota students should not be a political ploy; and I will not support anything, which is.”

Health and Safety

•  Students rally for stronger bullying protections, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

• Editorial: Scrap seniority-only teacher tenure law, Star Tribune

• Legislators propose to overhaul school trust lands management, Star Tribune

• Charter-school group seeks legislative changes to ease replication, ensure accountability, Minnpost

• Duluth School Board considers range of possible budget cuts, Duluth News Tribune

• House passes teacher skills bill 132-0, Pioneer Press

• House passes GOP’s ‘teacher test’ bill, Minnpost

• Minnesota House votes to eliminate ‘last in, first out’ practice in teacher layoffs, Pioneer Press

• Governor Dayton’s State of the State Address, Office of the Governor
• Governor encourages Minn. business to adopt a school, take more active role in educating youth, Star Tribune

National News

• A Last-Minute Deal on Teacher Evaluations, New York Times

• Federal Role in K-12 at Heart of ESEA Hearing, Education Week

Research & Reports

• Editorial: A positive grade for integration aid plan, Star Tribune
• Task force recommends greater oversight, guidance for school integration efforts, Minnesota Public Radio
• House GOP lawmakers push plan to update ed law, Minnesota Public Radio
• ‘Value Added’ Concept Proves Beneficial to Teacher Colleges, Education Week

Technology and Innovation

• Rethinking Testing in the Age of the iPad, Education Week

This week the Integration Revenue Replacement Task Force completed its work and finalized its report to the legislature.  The report was adopted on a 10-2 vote and included both fiscal and policy reforms.  Fiscal provisions in the report include: capping the program at current funding levels, leveling fiscal disparities between similar districts, designating funding to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to ensure oversight and accountability, establishing a stable and predictable model in two-year increments and defining percentages of allowable expenditures (at least 80% revenue spent on students, 20% on professional development and no more than 10% on administration).  Policy provisions include: renaming program to “Achievement & Integration for Minnesota,” (AIM) focusing on locally developed plans and goals, establishing MDE evaluation procedures and allowing MDE to withhold funds for failure to comply with program objectives, 5 areas of funding (innovative and integrated learning environments, family engagement, professional development, access to opportunity and increasing diversity of teachers).  In addition to the outlined policy provisions, the task force proposed that the legislature explore the idea of one collaborative metropolitan integration school district.  In national news, 10 of the 11 states that applied for NCLB waivers were granted, including Minnesota. Education Week reports that 28 states are expected to apply for a waiver during the second deadline.

Health and Safety

• Junk foods widely available at elementary schools, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

• State integration task force adopts plan to close achievement gap, Star Tribune
• Minnesota freed from ‘No Child Left Behind’ sanctions, Star Tribune
• Minnesota to be granted waiver from NCLB law, Minnpost
• Sleepy Eye schools seek state approval for 4-day weeks, Pioneer Press
• Minnesota schools excused from controversial No Child, Pioneer Press
• In Twin Cities suburbs, magnet schools go local, Pioneer Press
• Minnesota among 10 states to get No Child waiver, Minnesota Public Radio

National News

• Florida experience shows why states sought relief from No Child Left Behind’s strict demands, Star Tribune
• Broad Changes Ahead as NCLB Waivers Roll Out, Education Week
• ‘Parent Trigger’ Laws Gain Traction, But Slowly, Education Week

Research & Reports

• Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show, New York Times
• Suburban Chicago Schools Lag as Bilingual Needs Grow, New York Times

Technology and Innovation

• Homeroom: At East Ridge in Woodbury, students can get a head start in biomedical field, Pioneer Press
• Battle for Whiteboard-Market Supremacy Heats Up, Education Week

The legislature is in full swing and this week education committees heard bills relating to teacher seniority, the teacher candidate basic skills exam, K-12 online learning and the Public Employees Insurance Program (PEIP). Several media outlets covered the hearing on the teacher seniority bill.  In national news, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued new guidance on district responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  In an Education Week article, authors anticipate that under the new guidance, more students will be evaluated for special education services or accommodations.

Health and Safety

• St. Paul schools launch program to get students eating fruits, veggies, Minnesota Public Radio
• Should kids be allowed to drink with parents, Minnesota Public Radio
• New MPLS chef aims to transform students’ food, one step at a time, MinnPost

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

• Legislature asks: Should Twin Cities mayors run schools? Star Tribune
• Editorial: The urgency of school reform in Minnesota, Pioneer Press
• Legislating by constitution is hazardous, Star Tribune
• Teacher seniority, NCL top education issues in low-key legislative session, Minnesota Public Radio
• St. Paul teachers’ union OKs tentative contract, Minnesota Public Radio
• School leaders describe legislative priorities, Stillwater Gazette
• Teacher layoff practices debated, Minnesota House of Representatives
• Battle to end teacher seniority in Minnesota begins, Star Tribune

National News

• K-12 Marketplace Sees Major Flow of Venture Capital, Education Week
• Feds Say More Students May Qualify for Disability Services, Education Week

 People

• Pulling STEM out of compartments and into students’ everyday lives, Minnpost

Technology and Innovation

• Education Week: States Mulling Creativity Indexes for Schools, Education Week

The Minnesota legislature convened the 2012 session on January 24 and the education committees in both the House and Senate were quick to start hearing bills.  Education Week reported this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering schools the opportunity to serve students free after-school dinner.  New York started offering free suppers under the pilot project 10 years ago.  The state estimates they are serving 140,000 students dinner each day.

Health & Safety

• After-School Programs’ Newest Activity: Supper, Education Week
• New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity, New York Times

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

• Teacher licensing requirements may increase, Minnesota House Public Information Services
• Charter school funding contested, Minnesota House Public Information Services
• Minnesota Legislature: Charter schools would gain levy funding from district under bill, Pioneer Press
• Anoka Hennepin school district expands free, all-day kindergarten to 11 sites, Pioneer Press
• Lakeville district, teachers approve new two-year contract, Pioneer Press
• Obama’s school dropout proposal would be a change for Minnesota, Minnpost

National News

• Obama Proposes New Race to Top Aimed at Higher Ed, Education Week
• Bold Remake Proposed for Indianapolis Schools, Education Week (subscribers only)
• Some States Prodding Students to Graduate Early, Education Week

This week, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan held education town halls at South High School in Minneapolis and Irondale High School in New Brighton.  Duncan also made news this week by announcing a school district competition for Race to the Top funding.  AMSD held their annual Winter Conference on Tuesday, January 17 with over 150 participants.

AMSD Information

• 2012 Winter Conference Materials, AMSD

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

• Two GOP lawmakers ask feds to deny Minnesota’s No Child Waiver, Minnesota Public Radio
• Irondale’s new college-in-high-school program to be on display at town hall with Arne Duncan, Minnpost
• Minneapolis’ promise opens college to more, Star Tribune
• Burnsville-Eagan-Savage to offer free full-day kindergarten this fall, Pioneer Press
• Across Minnesota, teacher contract negotiations moving slowly, Pioneer Press
• Irondale High School to get visit from U.S. education secretary, Pioneer Press

National News

• Interview with Arne Duncan, Education Week
• Duncan to Give Districts Shot at Race to the Top, Education Week (subscriber article)

People

•  Words of inspiration, reflection on King’s birthday, Minnpost

Reports and Research

• Rating Teachers, Minnesota Public Radio
• Special Educators Borrow from Brain Studies, Education Week

Technology and Innovation

• Free Legal Advice from Chicago Law and Education Foundation, New York Times
• Common App 4.0, New York Times

On Thursday, Education Week released their Quality Counts report card and gave MN a C (74.6%).  MN is just behind the national average grade of 76.5%.   Check out all the state report cards.

Health & Safety

• Family of paralyzed hockey player calls for safer play, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

•  Editorial: Bush Foundation is in a strong position, Star Tribune
• Minnesota holds first American Indian education summit, Pioneer Press
• Dayton Aims to repair Indian education system, Star Tribune
• Quality Counts 2012 MN Report Card, Education Week

National News

• Gov Brown’s plan to scrap ‘transitional  kindergarten’ spurs protest from lawmakers, educators, Star Tribune
• Longer School Day in Chicago Brings Promise and Questions, New York Times
• New York City Plans to Close a charter School for Mediocrity, New York Times
• Yardsticks Vary by Nation in Calling Education to Account, Education Week
• US Education Pressured by International Comparisons, Education Week

People

• Homeroom: Cherokee Heights Elementary, St. Paul, connecting with ‘unreachable’ parents, Pioneer Press
• St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Valeria Silva Launches One Thing I Love, Minnesota Monthly
• 160 Minn. students compete in regional Science Bowl, Minnesota Public Radio
• Teach for America teachers moving into policy positions, Minnpost
• Time’s 12 Education Activists to Watch in 2012, Time

One of the biggest news stories coming out of the metro area this week was the consideration by the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district to fund districtwide, all-day, tuition free kindergarten.  The board did not take any action but may consider it at their next meeting.  In national news, NCLB celebrates its 10th anniversary and Education Week takes a look at the history of the law.

AMSD Legislative Preview

• Presenter Materials from the 2012 AMSD Legislative Preview

Minnesota Legislature, State Policies and Minnesota News

•  104 Minn. school districts reach deals with teachers, Minnesota Public Radio
• Proposal offered for districtwide, all-day, tuition-free kindergarten, Pioneer Press
• Franken tells local students he hopes Congress will leave No Child Law behind, Pioneer Press

National News

• Wisconsin proposal to boost reading skills unveiled, Pioneer Press
• House ESEA Draft Would Rein in Federal Accountability Rules, Education Week
• GOP Hopefuls Favor Scaled-Back K-12 Federal Role, Education Week
• NCLB Turns 10, Education Week

People

• Bush Foundation chief Hutchinson steps down, Star Tribune

Research, Reports and Surveys

• Gates Foundation report says schools need more than just once-a-year teacher evaluations, Star Tribune
• Big Study Links Good Teachers to Lasting Gain, New York Times
• Can a good teacher change a student for life, Minnpost
• Students of Virtual Schools are Lagging in Proficiency, New York Times