2015 Scholars of Distinction
Forty-eight distinguished Minnesota high school students were honored at the Scholars of Distinction award program emceed by student speaker and honoree, Grant Two Bulls. Awards were presented in the areas of Science, STEM, Mathematics, Social Studies, Leadership and Theater Arts. To earn recognition, each student completed required work in Minnesota’s academic standards, demonstrated mastery of complex subject matter, and applied their knowledge, skills and talents to a variety of highly challenging projects.
Read news release with list of scholars and projects.
District Asks Residents to Weigh-in on Support for a Range of Education Improvements
Four hundred randomly selected Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district residents recently responded to a survey based on thirteen safety, space and technology improvements, recommended by a district task force this spring.
Ninety-four percent of survey respondents rated the district's school facilities as good or excellent--and agree that the district provides a safe and secure environment for students. On early learning, 81 percent believe the district's preschool programs are very important or essential in determining a student's success in school.
Visit the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District website for more information.
Universal School Readiness Requires Universal Access
Arthur J Reynolds, Ph,D., and University of Minnesota Professor at the College of Education and Human Development's Institute of Child Development, wrote a recent commentary urging Minnesota to act now on pre-kindergarten in order to benefit low- and middle-income kids alike.
Read commentary in Star Tribune by Arthur J. Reynolds.
Visit the Institute of Child Development website.
Pre-K for All
Start by targeting at-risk students but find a way to expand it to include everyone. Read the Five Reasons we Need Universal Pre-K by Sara Mead in U.S. News and World Report.
Sara Mead is a principal with Bellwether Education Partners, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping education organizations become more effective in their work and achieve dramatic results for students.
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Dayton Takes Pre-K Pitch to Kids, Teachers
One day after vetoing the education finance bill, Governor Mark Dayton continued his push for universal preschool at Westview Elementary in Apple Valley. Watch Kare 11 feature.
Moorhead School District Uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to Lower Behavioral Incidents
When it comes to improving children's behavior, Moorhead School District officials are positive PBIS works. Read full Grand Forks Herald story.
"It's Not Either-or, It's And, And, And"
The grandpa-looking guy at Westview Elementary in Apple Valley likely none of the kids knew was Gov. Dayton. Their visitor wanted to see an existing Pre-K program in operation first-hand. “It's not either or, it's and, and, and,” Dayton said. “There's got to be enough money in the formula that we're not taking away from kids who are in regular classrooms.” Watch full story on Fox 9.
Students Describe "Triumph Over Tragedy" with Essays
Quietly, with little attention and sometimes with much less respect than is deserved, a portion of Minnesota public education has grown from serving about 4,000 students in 1988 to more than 162,000 students, full- and part-time. Read more in Monticello Times.
Register Now for Minnesota School Climate Policy Institute
 The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) School Safety Technical Assistance Center is partnering with the National School Climate Center (NSCC) and Minnesota Service Cooperatives (MSC) to offer a one-day policy institute Monday, June 15, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
Who should attend? school district leadership teams, state education policy leaders. The institute will focus on policy recommendations that promote academic achievement through school climate improvement.
School district leadership teams are encouraged to bring their district’s bullying prohibition, discipline, attendance and/or inclusion policies to the institute to work with during the day. Space is limited, register online now.
2015 Back-to-School Leadership Conference
Save the date! The 2015 superintendents’ conference will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 4 and 5, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest (formerly the Northland Inn) in Brooklyn Park. Watch for more information.
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