Annual Report
2021 Annual Report

Minnesota educational leaders and cultural communities create equitable education systems, structures, and public narratives.

In 2020-21, MnEEP:

Provided race equity skill-building to district superintendents

MnEEP, with thought partners and K-12 leadership professors and researchers at Mankato State University (MNSU), provided equity leadership skills and will-building support to eight Minnesota school superintendents leading community building and equity change.

Provided race equity plan development for schools

MnEEP staff and consultants worked with Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) staff and school leadership for a series of dialogues, learning stops and training that built their capacity around education equity, justice, and community-building.  Six visioning sessions with cultural communities lifted up the equity in education dreams of parents – and were centered in the creation of an Education Equity Framework.

Advocated for Racial Equity in Education Policy and Practice at the State Level:

MnEEP provided thought leadership, research and advocacy support to the Mn Department of Education (MDE), as they improve statewide Distance Learning education with a race equity lens.  MnEEP was represented on three statewide Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) advisories/Governor’s Taskforce.

1. Member of Minnesota Distance Learning advisory (w/30-35 other education organizations) for MDE.
2. Co-facilitator of the MN Race Equity advisory for MDE, Fall to Spring 2020-2021.

Including groups such as: Children’s Defense Fund, Ignite After School alliance, Youth Alliance, Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL).

•  Selected as a member (of 22) of Governor Walz and Lt Governor Flanagan Education Roundtable, advising the final “Due North” plan for Minnesota. See https://education.mn.gov/MDE/about/plan/

Minnesota educational systems are designed to bring students of color and American Indian students into relationships with schools and teachers that promote their human dignity.

In 2020-21, MnEEP:

MnEEP provided school and community leaders with deeper knowledge of school behavior policies and best practices

MnEEP, with thought leadership partner Sankore Consulting, provided facilitation and training  through 4 Learning sessions with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) Diversion committee.

MnEEP developed innovative tools to support the movement to end suspensions and grow positive and dignified school climates

MNEEP School Climate Advisory Council created the School Climate Equity Framework which shared key school restorative justice tools with the Diversion committee.

Minnesota educational systems advance racially and culturally responsive teaching and learning environments for teachers and students.

In 2020-2021 MnEEP:

Continued to catalyze a learning community/network of cross-sector partners and stakeholders to advance systems change

hifted the narratives about the teaching profession through a web tool ImprintU.org

Held professional development learning sessions with over 180 educators through PELSB-certified Culturally Competency in Teaching (CCT) Learning Sessions

Minnesota educational leaders embrace the language and culture of each student, and value the home language of Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian students as vital for their academic success.

In 2020-2021, MnEEP:

Expanded networks and parent engagement for Emerging Multilingual Learners Education Equity Systems Change

In order to impact policies and practices to provide more equitable for Emerging Multilingual Learners (EML) in Minnesota, MnEEP expanded the EML Network and parent engagement sessions on key policy.

1. Five meetings with English Learner cultural groups from Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) were held to present information on LEAPS and do relationship building for future advocacy.  
2. Six EML Network meetings were held sharing policy advocacy strategy, promising practices and systems change information.

Supported national EML policy advancement

Maintained a connection to Migrant Policy Institute (MPI) regarding national policy progress on EL and immigrant learners.

Advocated for EL Funding and Policy Improvements:

MnEEP staff and consultants engaged in EML policy advocacy for fidelity of LEAPS implementation and emerging distance learning issues specific to EML students.

Minnesota higher education systems are transformed to be racially just, responsive, and accessible for students of color and American Indian students.

In 2020-2021 MnEEP:

Convened the College Race Equity Advocacy Advisory Council (CREAAC) to direct and guide the goals of the organization to shape higher education policy and practice with a racial equity lens.

Community engagement and networking with agency leaders, legislators, higher education institutions, policymakers, and funder to build models for higher ed equity and access

Supported state policy advocacy:

Informed on financial aid and higher education policy areas that can be shaped with a race equity lens

National policy advocacy:

Partnering with national policy orgs to inform how the changing landscape of a racially equitable higher education system and culture can look here in Minnesota and across the nation