Ann Johnson
EdAllies Board Chair
As a lifelong educator, parent, and now grandparent, I know the greatness inherent in all children. I also know, when I look at Minnesota’s stagnant opportunity and achievement gaps, our systems have a long way to go to live up to what our children deserve. My belief in all students and my urgency for systemic change to ensure that they achieve their full, unlimited potential bring me to my work at EdAllies.
As you read this year's highlights, you’ll see that there’s a lot worth celebrating–despite changes and setbacks, including the governor’s decision to veto nearly all legislation that reached his desk in 2018. While this thwarted change at the Capitol, we engaged more deeply in implementation than ever before (placing our focus on how policy change rolls out on the ground and building on our momentum to overhaul the state’s broken teacher licensure system), invested in new pathways into the classroom, and made student achievement data more transparent and actionable. We pushed for greater nuance in high-profile conversations on key education issues, and for those conversations to centralize the voices of those our education systems should and must serve.
With so much focus on the work that comes after big policy change, years like 2018 remind me that we’re in this work for the long run. In fact, I am more confident now than ever in EdAllies' ability to stay true to our mission of putting underserved students first, removing barriers, and changing the conversation.
Finally, 2018 reinforced that we cannot do this work alone. We rely on partners like you to support us in achieving our vision: a Minnesota where systems finally support all children to thrive.
To our community, advocates, partners, and friends: Thank you for believing in – and advocating for – the limitless potential of every child.
Ann Johnson
EdAllies Board Chair
We envision a Minnesota where every student succeeds in a rigorous and engaging education.
EdAllies partners with schools, families, and communities to ensure that every young Minnesotan has access to a rigorous and engaging education. We advance policies that put underserved students first, remove barriers facing successful schools and programs, and foster an inclusive conversation about what’s possible for students.
At EdAllies, we do whatever it takes to remove barriers standing in the way of a rigorous and engaging education for every Minnesota student. To advance this vision in 2018, we focused on three streams of work: long-term policy advocacy, implementation, and communications. Below, we recap our overall efforts, and offer a closer look at one issue related to each of these fronts.
We take our name seriously, striving to be strong allies in the fight to ensure all Minnesota children get the education they need and deserve. This is why partnerships are at the beginning, middle, and end of everything we do. We look to our partners – families, school and district leaders, teachers, students, and other education stakeholders – to tell us what needs to change for Minnesota students. Together, we work to make change happen. And lastly, we ask them how we can continually improve how we partner in the future.
Our annual partner survey is just one way we measure our impact in the local education ecosystem and solicit feedback from our allies.
local partners completed the survey, a 247% increase in participation over 2017.
agreed or strongly agreed that we are responsive and reliable.
of respondents identified as people of color or American Indian.
agreed or strongly agreed that EdAllies is a valuable partner.
I especially appreciate the nimbleness of EdAllies’ strategy – approaching obstacles that need to be tackled, regardless if it is legislative, administrative, etc.
I can rely on EdAllies to be at the forefront of policy solutions and pushing the conversation further toward equity.
It is refreshing to have a partner that isn’t afraid of challenges, that calls balls and strikes, that is upfront and honest, and that doesn’t let the bummers that come with this work get them down.
73%
19%
8%
Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Activities
Statement of Financial Expenses
We’re already hard at work on our 2019 goals, from advancing policies that support great teachers and school leaders, to bringing more nuance to local education conversations, to making it easier for families to understand – and access – their school options.
