Education

In our May 21 issue, the MSR began a series of stories looking into an organization called Better Ed that has launched a now-two-year-old campaign to highlight the shortcomings of public schools, especially those in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and promote “school choice” as a solution.

In these days of achievement gaps and disappointing graduation rates, one South Minneapolis high school this year graduated 100 percent of its senior students. And they’re all going to college.

Over the past few weeks, the MSR has published a series of articles focusing on an organization called Better Ed, which has launched a campaign highlighting the shortcomings of Minneapolis and St. Paul Public schools.

Fourth in a multi-part series

Over the past few weeks, the MSR has published a series of articles focusing on an organization called Better Ed, which has launched a campaign highlighting the shortcomings of Minneapolis and St. Paul Public schools. They promote “school choice” as a solution. Their main argument is that the schools spend approximately $21,000 per students with very poor student outcomes, especially for African American students.

Third in a multi-part series

The MSR began this series two weeks ago looking into an organization called Better Ed that has launched a now-two-year-old campaign to highlight the shortcomings of public schools, especially those in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and promote “school choice” as a solution.

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.

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.

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.”

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):

“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.