Minneapolis Board of Education - Committee of the Whole

Remote

• The committee heard an update on its new intervention program, which involved hiring about 350 educators this school year to work with students in need of reading and math support. Though it is too early to determine clear results, district staff said the data is not yet showing proof of success.
  • Over 3,600 students are receiving the interventions. The district’s mid-year data is showing that the students are not reaching their growth targets between fall and winter as well as the non-intervention students are. Sarah Hunter, executive director of Strategic Initiatives, said that the growth tends to be lower for students in intervention, but the data is not showing what the district needs to improve achievement, especially for those who are underserved. She noted that the midyear data is too early to determine clear results.
  • The district is now looking at the new data to see what’s working and to change the interventions to follow the patterns of success. In some cases the intensity and frequency of the interventions must be increased.
• The committee of the whole also got an update on the budget cutting plan. Chief Finance Officer Ibrahima Diop said anything the board wanted to save must be counterbalanced by cuts in some other areas.