Blog : 'Equity' Category

Archive for the ‘Equity’ Category

MDE is Getting a New Commissioner. Who Should Gov. Walz Appoint?

Post-election, there has been a lot of talk about the new makeup of the Legislature, and what we can expect […]

A Wrap on the 2022 Session: Nothing Happened in the Room Where it Happens

If a legislative body of 201 members, hundreds of staffers, and countless advocates spends four months drafting and debating legislation […]

Legislators Need to Know What I Learned About Exclusionary Discipline

To learn more about discipline in Minnesota schools, I’ve had many conversations with students about whether they’ve experienced exclusionary discipline. […]

Experiencing MN’s Patterns of Exclusion in Advanced Coursework

In this day and age, we’re constantly told how much closer we are to equality than our predecessors, that the […]

Four Qualities of an Effective Ethnic Studies Teacher

The new draft of Minnesota’s social studies standards requires students to learn ethnic studies at every grade level. Students of all backgrounds […]

Less Than Half of MN Students Completed the FAFSA. It’s Time for State Action.

For the Minnesota class of 2021, only 48% of seniors filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—a form […]

From Parent to Parent: Seeing Each Other Amidst Uncertainty

We barely made it out of all the craziness last school year, and a new one is already here! I […]

What Parents Want Teachers to Know

Last month, a local educator wrote a Star Tribune op-ed reflecting on more than three decades of teaching with some […]

Preparing for MCA Scores: 6 Strategies to Address Lost Learning

This week, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will release the reading, math, and science results from the 2021 Minnesota […]

MDE Decides How They Will Spend ARP Money

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) is sending $1.3 billion in federal funding for K-12 COVID recovery to be spent in Minnesota over […]

Legislators Finally Reach a Deal on K-12 Bill. What Did (& Didn’t) Make the Cut?

More than one month after the regular 2021 legislative session ended, legislators have reached an agreement on the K-12 education omnibus […]

As a First-Gen College Student, High-Level High School Courses Made the Difference in my Success

Going into my junior year of college, I’ve realized something crucial to my success—particularly as a first-generation student: The courses […]

Next Up: Special Session! What We’re Watching on Education

The Minnesota legislature officially adjourned Monday afternoon, but with a lot of work unfinished. Once again, legislators will have to […]

Don’t Forget About Us: Students are Still Missing Essential Resources for Learning

This post is the ninth in our Education at a Distance series, centering the voices of students, parents, and educators […]

What Does the American Rescue Plan Mean for Education in Minnesota?

In mid-March, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), which includes $170 billion in […]

House Education Omnibus Bill: Some Good Policies with a Swing and a Miss on Teacher Licensure

This month, the Education Policy Committee released their omnibus bill—the single bill that packages all the K-12 policies the House […]

Searching for Strength Following Atlanta Shootings

On Tuesday, a gunman entered three different spas and killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women. Over the […]

Are Current Licensure Proposals Really for the Benefit of Our Children?

I am a bilingual teacher with a master’s in Education, a degree in Latin American Studies, and 15 years of […]

5 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare to Address the Chauvin Trial in Your Classroom

With the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd approaching, teachers in Minneapolis, as well as those across […]

Let’s Break it Down: Five Reasons Why We’re Saying “NO” to This Year’s Licensure Bill

If you had told me a decade ago that I would be working this hard to make teacher licensure in […]

Teachers Push Back on Licensure Changes

Minnesota students should never miss out on a great teacher because of arbitrary licensure barriers. Despite signs that tiered licensure […]

What’s in the Governor’s Education Budget?

Late January, Governor Walz released a budget proposal with 428-pages on education. Many of the priorities tie back to his […]

It’s a Pandemic, Don’t Leave Students Out of the Mental Health Conversation

This post is the eighth in our Education at a Distance series, centering the voices of students, parents, and educators […]

Will the MN House Act on Racial Justice? Why I Shared My Story

Growing up as a Mexican-American in Minnesota, my experience in the public school system was, at a minimum, alienating and, […]

First House Education Hearings Include Proposals on COVID-19 Recovery

This week, the legislative session started kicking into gear with hearings on two bills that will invest in COVID-19 recovery […]

Criticality, Neutrality, and the State of Civics in America

Teaching after tough days—moments of crisis, pain, tumult, and uncertainty—can be some of the most simultaneously rewarding moments in an […]

New MN Teacher Preparation Regulations Are Almost Done

For over a year, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) has been working to overhaul their process for […]

Stakeholders Raise Concerns Over Proposed Teacher Prep Rules

For over a year, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)—the state agency that oversees teacher licensure and prep—has […]

14 Key Questions for Parents to Ask to Help Navigate this School Year

This year, back-to-school will look different than ever before. With each district making a unique learning plan, how do you […]

Learning From National Innovators Part 3: Educating Students During COVID-19

Right now, schools and districts across Minnesota are building their own, unique back-to-school plan. While this allows a customized approach […]

10 Things All MN Schools Must Do Next School Year, No Matter Their Model

Last week, Governor Walz announced a framework for back-to-school that will lead to a mix of delivery models across the […]

Public Eye is on Education. Will this Translate to Action During Special Session?

This article was updated July 20 to reflect the introduction of HF96. For the second time this summer Governor Walz […]

Community Sounds Off at the Capitol on Distance Learning Barriers

In June, Minnesota’s House Education Policy and Finance committees came together for a series of informational hearings to better understand […]

Big Policies Pass in Special Session, But Much Work Remains

Last week, legislators came back for a one-week special session with a renewed call to address racial equity. Leaders brought […]

Minnesota Needs More Pathways Into the Classroom, But Concerns with PELSB Process Persist

In 2017, Minnesota changed state laws to allow alternative teacher preparation programs to operate outside of higher education. We’ve been […]

Flurry of Activity on Education During Special Session

Legislators came into special session last Friday with numerous priorities, hopes to advance several education policies that didn’t pass in […]

A Call to Action on Racial Justice for Minnesota Students

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, conversations on racial justice have moved front and center. Given Minnesota’s startling opportunity […]

Pandemic-EBT Will Put $114M in the Hands of MN Families—If We Can Get the Word Out

This article was updated June 30 to reflect the increased per-child benefit and extended deadline. The deadline to apply was […]

Reeling After the Murder of George Floyd

Our community is reeling after the murder of George Floyd. For me, a Black person, the brutality on display hits […]

Ensuring Equity: Emergency Funds and Summer Learning on the Way for MN Schools

Last week, Governor Walz announced how he will prioritize Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act emergency support dedicated […]

2020 Session Wrap-Up: What Passed, What Didn’t (and What Still Has a Chance)?

The 2020 legislative session was not what anyone expected. COVID-19’s devastating impact on Minnesota students and their access to a […]

Distance Learning Pulls Back the Curtain on What Teachers Have Always Known

This post is the fourth in our Education at a Distance series, centering the voices of students, parents, and educators […]

Will Key COVID-19 Education Bill Pass Before Session Adjourns?

With under a week left of the regular legislative session, the Minnesota House and Senate are still working behind the […]

Teacher Licensure During COVID-19: Barriers to Student Teaching, Renewals, and More

The COVID-19 crisis has caused ripple effects across the education system, raising significant questions and challenges for the teacher licensure […]

More Than Just a Building: Getting By When School Supports Shift

This post is the second in our Education at a Distance series, centering the voices of students, parents, and educators […]

Minnesota, We Have a Problem: Students Need Internet Access for Distance Learning

Minnesota students have been distance learning for about a month and are set to continue through at least the remainder […]

Minnesota Distance Learning Plans by the Numbers

Last week, Governor Walz announced Minnesota school buildings will remain closed for the rest of the school year, elevating the […]

Why Distance Learning Can’t Always Come First: A Student Perspective

This post is the first in our Education at a Distance series, centering the voices of students, parents, and educators […]

Learning from National Innovators Part 2: Educating Students Under COVID-19

Since Governor Walz closed schools in mid-March, students, families, and educators have worked to prepare and implement distance learning. And […]

What Does the Federal CARES Act Mean for Education in MN?

After swift action to secure bipartisan agreement at the federal level, legislators passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security […]

MN Education During COVID-19: Legislative Action Coming

After going on hiatus March 17, legislators announced they will reconvene for one day. On Thursday, March 26 they will […]

Learning from National Innovators: Educating Students Under COVID-19

Like all of you, our team at EdAllies is working to adjust to the new realities we face. There are […]

MN Education Policy in the Time of COVID-19

Just over a month ago, policymakers began the 2020 legislative session eager to advance a range of legislative priorities. Now, […]

March 2020 Research Rundown

Welcome to EdAllies’ March Research Rundown; our curated list of recent, relevant research we think is worth adding to the […]

What’s in the Governor’s Education Bill?

This week, legislators held a hearing on the Governor’s education policy bill (HF3186). The bill contains several policies that will […]

Our Kids Deserve More than “Just OK”

Earlier this month, Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page proposed amending […]

Can We Measure Student Engagement? Yes, and We Should!

Like many fourth-grade parents across Minnesota, I received my daughter’s third-grade MCA scores last month. And frankly, it’s easy as […]

Talking Education Justice: A Recap of 8 Black Hands Live

Can integration, academic excellence, and parent choice coexist? Where do they fit in the fight for education justice? Chris Stewart, […]

Not Your Grandma’s Book Club: Unsettling the Status Quo in Education

Any number of things come to mind when you hear the word “book club,” but sparking disruption the education system […]

As a New Father, Minnesota’s Failure to Support and Educate Black Children is Front and Center

When a child comes into your life, it can feel like chaos comes with them. You may have a child […]

My Daughter’s Disability Was Not Her Destiny—and the Right School Made all the Difference

My daughter sat quietly at the table, just staring at the paraprofessional as he quizzed her. He got louder and […]

Excluded and Exaggerated Data Hides the Real State of Our Students

Each year, around the start of the school year, the Minnesota Department of Education provides an update on student achievement […]

Why We Must Decolonize Civics

There’s an adage I use with my students often that the roots of our country will show up in its […]

For Students of Color with Special Needs, Action on School Discipline is Urgent

This week, the United States Commission Civil Rights published a new report which confirms what we have known anecdotally for […]

Taking a Hard Look at Data and Making Harder Choices

We just wrapped testing season in Minnesota. And while Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results can’t tell the whole story of […]

Graduation rates are up. Are our expectations?

Last month, local media reported that four-year graduation rates in Minnesota were up. Not just up, but at an all-time […]

The 2019 Education Bill: What Made the Cut?

After going into overtime, the Minnesota Legislature wrapped up its work for the year proving, once again, that the only […]

Instead of Locking Our Classroom Doors to Students, Let’s Give Them the Key

Every year, like clockwork, my colleagues and I debate how to address the issue of student tardies. I have little […]

Changes to Tiered Licensure Would Push Me Out of Public Schools

There’s been plenty of talk, and disagreement, about proposed changes to Minnesota’s new tiered licensure system: some people say the […]

Keep Great Teachers in the Classroom. Period.

With teachers being the most important in-school factor for student success, “Who should lead our classrooms?” is no small question. In answering […]

3 Steps for a Better Education Conversation

As an experienced educator, an advocate, a parent, a grandparent, and a former public school student myself, I have seen […]