In response to member districts expressing their desire to create student-centered learning environments for their students, AMSD and KnowledgeWorks began a four-phased project to review Minnesota education policy structures in areas impacting schools’ ability to innovate.
The result is the AMSD Strategy Guide, our action plan for more equitable student-centered learning in the state.
Enabling Student-Centered Learning Systems in Minnesota
We have seen tremendous energy and enthusiasm throughout the state for student-centered learning. Schools and districts are looking for ways to personalize learning for their students, and they will continue to do so. The recommendations and strategic actions detailed in this guide represent an important step toward the long-term transformation of Minnesota’s K-12 education ecosystem.
Categories of recommendations within this guide
This guide centers on high-level policy recommendations within three strategy areas–culture of innovation, empowering educators and assessments. Recommendations come from the 2023 opportunity analysis and are arranged to show a possible order advocates might use to pursue policy change.
Culture of Innovation
Minnesota presently has many school- and district-level “random acts of personalized learning.” However, it does not have a statewide culture that encourages and values student-centered innovation. School districts should play a key role in building this culture in order to benefit students, educators and communities.
Empowering Educators
Educators need a deep understanding of personalized learning practices to make the necessary transformative shifts in their classroom practice. Minnesota can build on its existing structures to improve alignment to student-centered learning principles.
Assessments
State assessments directly impact state accountability systems which in turn helps drive student, teacher, school and district behaviors. In recent years, states across the country have begun to consider how their assessment structures could better support student-centered learning environments.
This strategy guide was crafted after a year of research and engagement with AMSD members and the broader education community.
We want to reiterate our hope that this work continues to move forward, whether by following this guide in full or prioritizing specific recommendations.