A space for local and national stories about issues surrounding education, especially as they relate to African Americans.
One of the goals in the ten months since Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) opened its new Black Male Student Achievement office was to “change the dynamics,” especially how Black male students are seen by others and by themselves, said its director.
B.L.A.C.K. aims to empower through language and teamwork Read More
On May 20 the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), now in its 80th year of publication, and its nonprofit namesake the MSR 501c3, hosted the 20th annual High School Graduation Celebration at the Metropolitan Ballroom located in Golden Valley. As in previous years, the Celebration echoed its traditional theme “Education and Graduation: It’s a family affair.”
PHOTOS | MSR’s 20th Annual Grad Celebration highlights Read More
In late April, three African American male college students received the Eddie Phillips Scholarship Award. The scholarship is currently a two-year pilot program awarded to young men who give back to their community through volunteer and community service projects. The scholarship is a partnership of the Minnesota Private College Fund and the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Fund.
Scholarships groom young Black men for leadership Read More
Nearly two years ago a billboard appeared in North Minneapolis that raised quite a few eyebrows. Strategically placed across the street from the Minneapolis Public Schools’ Davis Center at 1250 West Broadway, the billboard declared, “Minneapolis Public Schools spends $525,000 per classroom of 25 students…PER YEAR.”
Public schools foe Better Ed campaigns for school choice Read More
Shakeer Abdullah proudly credits community folk for helping him adjust to being at the University of Minnesota much quicker than otherwise might have been the case.
U of M hopes to keep high school grads of color in state Read More
In last week’s issue, the MSR published “Northside schools create partnership for student success: Principals envision a grades 6-12 educational continuum,” announcing the opening of North/Summatech in 2015. Since that time we’ve received the following update from Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS):
UPDATE: North/Summatech partnership Read More
“Black Lives Matter” is resonating in our nation and is bringing awareness to the changes needed to address many systemic barriers. For Keary Wayne Saffold, it is music to his ears. For the last 13 years he has dedicated his life to ensuring that every child hears that they matter.
School dean stands in the gap for students of color Read More
Officials, lawmakers and civil rights groups commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by calling for much-needed updates to the law.
Education advocates call for retooled No Child Left Behind on 50th anniversary Read More
Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said she will continue to work with local groups to close the achievement gap between Black and White students.
U. S. education equity ‘has a long way to go’ Read More
James Barnett, principal of Minneapolis College Preparatory School, a public charter school currently serving 9-12 grade students at the old “Lincoln Elementary” building on 12th and Penn Ave. N, is originally from Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Minneapolis when he was in the fifth grade.
Living predominantly on the North Side, he went to Hall Elementary and Franklin Junior High. In high school, he attended Minnehaha Academy, and then went to St. Olaf College for his post-secondary education.
Teacher brings award-winning education expertise to N. Mpls Read More
With kindergarten, many children experience their first taste of independence. They get a glimpse for a few hours a day of what it’s like when their parents aren’t around. Little do they know that this will become their natural reality for the next 13 years.
Home visits engage parents, enlighten teachers Read More
Minnesota is fifth among U.S. “high-debt states” where college student debt upon graduation on average has surpassed $30,000, says The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). The 2014 project student debt report that TICAS released last November points out that in 2013 seven in 10 college graduates from public and private nonprofit colleges owe an average of $28,400 in student loans, up two percent from 2012.
Minnesota college students face loan crisis Read More
After 30 years of little to no progress, Black youth are completing high school at the highest rates in history.
This is the finding in a new issue brief titled, “Young Black America Part One: High School Completion Rates are at their Highest Ever,” published by the Center for Economic Policy Research, a Washington-based think-tank. The report examines Census Bureau data for 20 to 24 year-olds, and compares high school completion rates around the country over the past 30 to 40 years.
Blacks now finishing high school at record levels Read More
On March 5, North Minneapolis’ Phyllis Wheatley Community Center hosted Mayor Betsey Hodges’ Cradle to K Public Forum. Roughly 100 Minneapolis parents and community members gathered to voice concerns and add input to the city’s growing factors that contribute to the Minneapolis achievement gap between students of color and their Caucasian counterparts.
Age 0 – 3 the focus of achievement gap forum Read More
A “difference-maker who loves children.” That’s how Bill Wilson describes Dr. Tyrone Brookins. Wilson has known Brookins for almost 20 years.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Brookins has become a widely praised math teacher and now principal at Battle Creek Middle School in St. Paul Public Schools. He is the kind of person almost everyone wants working with young people and other educators.
Educator’s faith in schools and students bears fruit Read More
Increased investment in early childhood education and care can eradicate many of the racial success gaps that persist throughout society, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP).
Racial disparities in early childhood education hurts U.S. Read More
If the Minneapolis School Board approves it, Interim Superintendent Michael Goar plans to “right size” the district. “What we are proposing are the things that I will be focusing on as superintendent for the next four months,” says Goar, who was named Bernadeia Johnson’s interim successor in December and assumed his new duties Feb. 2.
Interim MPS super says this is no time to ‘play scared’ Read More
St. Paul Public Schools [SPPS] has “evolved” since 2009, the year Valeria Silva was hired as its superintendent. “Have we made mistakes? Yes. Have we improved on the mistakes we made? Absolutely,” says Silva, who adds that SPPS must keep pace with a city that has “gone through the largest transformation in 25 years.”
SPPS super says battling the board not her style Read More
As the Republican-led Congress prepares to update the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), civil rights groups, educators and student advocates fear that current proposals leave many poor and Black children behind.
Critics say GOP education reform would hurt poor and Black students Read MoreAn annual ceremony held on Jan. 9 this year in Minneapolis presented awards and highlighted the achievements of high school and college students who are majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
BDPA Twin Cities celebrates 25 years of education, innovation Read More