....

Mn used to have one of the better public school systems when I was growing up. Now it is failing our students of color and that is unacceptable. Schools systems are failing our kids across the nation. Race definately plays a role in this and goes back to what our country is founded on and extends to today. It is very sad and there are many pieces that play into why our children are failing but as a mother of a African American boy, it scares me. He will not play into what this country is built on. He will succeed no matter what and he definately will stay on his pathway to success. Why, because he has me who values education, who knows without it, his life will be taken away in some way. He deserves to live, happily and free and be able to do whatever he sets out to do in life and knowledge is one of those foundations that he needs to do this. This knowledge comes from education from me, his life experiences I give him, his daily lessons I teach him, the people around him daily and the schools I place him in.  I am a parent who is with him every step of the way and will do what is needed in order for him to succeed. The sad thing is many children do not have this support or parent who is able to do this. It scares me that if a child does not read by 3rd grade, he is on pipeline to prision. Prison is over populated with children of color, though we make up a small percentage of this country. It takes a village to raise a child. Our schools have to have dedicated leadership that trickles down to every person involved in the school process. Our children deserve caregivers who do not give up on them or the system and who will do what it takes to help their child succeed.....Working towards what is right.

More Info, thoughts anyone???

Thoughts on achievement gap?
How do we do this?
What about support service/wrap around services in our community schools?
Early intervention/education programs, does this play a role?
Accountability, who?
Turnaround school models, do these work to close achievement gap?
Why is there such an gap between white and non white students?
I posted other article earlier but links won't work about achievement gap, read up! Interesting situation that affects everyone!
Thoughts.......

Achievement gap resouces info.....

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/14/achievement_gap/

www.dfleducationfoundation.org/achievementgap/.../achievement-gap-trends -in-minnesota-and-minneapolis-public-schools.html 

Discussing Education Achievement Gap in Minnesota

Updated: Monday, 24 Jan 2011, 7:34 AM CST
Published : Monday, 24 Jan 2011, 7:34 AM CST

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A new Minnesota advocacy group will present its policy ideas for closing the education achievement gap between white students and members of racial minorities in the state. 

The group is called the Minnesota Campaign for Achievement Now, or MinnCAN, and it has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Monday at the state Capitol.

Executive Director Vallay Varro says the group is politically centrist and seeks commonsense solutions to the state's education problems. Varro is a former member of the St. Paul school board. 

Varro says MinnCAN is affiliated with 50Can, a group designed to spread the policies of a Connecticut group called ConnCAN. 

ConnCAN is known for its support of charter schools in that state. 

Article found on Fox 9 news  myfoxtwincities.com

ALL KIDS LEARN VIDEO FROM MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION

http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/2010/PDFsPublications/AllKidsLearnfactsheetGap.pdf

Good article from EDUCATION MINNESOTA

http://www.educationminnesota.org/news/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/011111-achgap.aspx

MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS BLOG, DONT CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, PREVENT IT

http://blog.mcf.org/2010/06/29/dont-close-the-achievement-gap-prevent-it/

Thoughts......Achievement Gap

A passion of mine is education. I am a parent and individual who understands that the educational foundation that is laid for our children should be a foundation that promotes a pipeline to success. The achievement gap in the MPLS public schools is the widest in the country between white and non white students, meaning our children of color are farther behind than their white counterparts here in MN than any other state in the US. Not ok. Our public schools are wonderful places that many of us have been educated through as well as our families. Many of us are connected to a public school in some way. Schools are places where our children gain knowledge and is part of building the pathways for their futures. With the many dedicated professionals and education curriculum currently in place, there still is a wide achievement gap and I believe though challenging, we can decrease this gap. One of the ways this can be done is by building on the positive things that work within schools and communities as well as add new and creative pieces that enhance the learning and support so everyone is successful. Funding continues to be cut but working together, dedicated to our children, we can make our schools more successful.

I believe one of the solutions to closing this gap is dedication and stability. 

Families and caregivers are the most important piece of children's success. Being involved in every piece of your child's education process is extremely important and includes having a relationship with your students teachers and school.

Having a school with great leadership, stable teachers and support staff that are enthusiastic and are committed to the children, families and neighborhoods they are located in and demonstrates this daily by working at a school for the long haul, is a piece to this puzzle. This shows students and families that they are committed to them and this can build trust between students, families, neighborhoods and the school. This allows relationships to be built and opens communication. When communication happens, change can be  made. When this happens everyone benefits. 

Housing stability plays another key role in students success.  There are many challenges as to why stable housing is an issue for many. Families that are able to live in a place that allows them to keep their kids in the same school long term benefits the kids, family and helps students be successful. When a student enters and exits different schools throughout the year or from year to year, it breaks the consistency. Each classroom and schools are at different places in their curriculum, activities, supports and teaching styles, not to mention peer relationships, which can be confusing to students, which brings many students needs not to be met.  Trust is not able to be built as strongly because relationships are not formed for the long term. This adds to the decrease in achievement success. 

A school that is dedicated to excellent education for students and allows teachers to teach and gives our kids the best education focused hours each day, lead by dedicated, knowledgeable and excellent leadership is essential to our kids success. A knowledgeable and excellent support staff of EBD personal, social workers, psychologists, special education teachers, parent liasons, volunteers, parents etc... understands that students are members of a family outside of school and building strong relationships with students and their families helps build success for each student.  Relationships need to be built so each child can have their unique needs met. There are many things that affect children outside of school and are brought with the children to school. The more consistent and stable a school is, the better hand they can extend to families and enahance the ability to support the children. If support staff have resources available for families such as housing resources, basic needs etc.. and have them available to families shows students, families and communities dedication, that each person is important, each student and family is wanted here and is valuable.

 Working together to keep our kids in the same schools with the same staff who are dedicated to a pathway of success I believe can begin to address the achievement gap. If the same beautiful and bright students attend the same school where they see the same teachers and staff and the families see the consistency and dedication, this  can build respect between families and schools. If this is grown and shown, communication can be developed and change can happen. 

CHILDCARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READY RESOURCES

Early Childhood Intervention - Human Services and Public Health ...

Apr 28, 2010 ... Contact Number: 612-348-TOTS (8687). Program Summary: Team of social workers, ... Call 348-TOTS (8687). Hours: 8 - 4:30, Monday - Friday ...
hennepin.us/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid.

REGISTER CHILD FOR MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOL

     http://schoolchoice.mpls.k12.mn.us/

MINNESOTA CHILDCARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SOURCE, need childcare?

http://www.mnchildcare.org/

educators and care givers working together to benefit child

It is so important to have a supportive school that is able to address education, social emotional and family issues/concerns of each child. When a child begins having difficulty in a certain area, it is important that school and care givers recognize together, that way they can work together for the mutual benefit of the child. Providing adequate support and love is key. Some times kids start out the school year on target but as school year continues more is expected and difficulty can arise. If child is feeling the challenge it may affect self esteem. School performance and self esteem can go hand in hand. This makes feelings of self worth questionable and without support and forward movement it can have a devastating affect on a child. A great school has great educators who can recognize changes in children early on. The earlier something is detected and supports are put in place the better the outcome. This does not mean diagnosis, special education but just can mean extra help in certain areas, pulling a child out of class to give additional support or additional work to do at home to continue building skills. Care givers and educators in consistent communication can build on skills worked on in class at home to keep child on target. Laying positive self talk to promote good self esteem, strong language, counting, letter recognition along with knowing sounds are important since they are the foundation to reading, writing and math which is needed for life. If these skills are not built or addressed early on, we are setting up our children for life struggle. Lets work together, communicate and support and love our children so the best foundation is laid.

Education Reinvestment

As our new Governor gets ready to talk education with Arnie Duncan this Friday he should keep in mind what is really important. Excellent schools for all.  In order for this to be achieved we need to step away from no child left behind which punishes the students by removing their principals and teachers if the school doesn't meet testing standards but does not address the core issues that got them to a failing point in the first place or assist in creating a pathway to success. We should be stepping forward to creating new and exciting curriculum that challenges and engages and puts all of our children on the road to success while addressing each school and communities diversity and specific needs. Adding enrichment activities, advanced placement, individual student support in addition to family and community support that meets the needs for each school plus add music class back into our schools is important. It is essential that we create a pathway from the beginning that sets all children on the road to educational and personal success. Reinvesting in our schools and our community needs really is an investment in our greatest commodity, our children, who are our future.