MREA applauds the Minneapolis Federal Reserve for creating the Center for Indian Country Development. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will start a national center to spur economic development on Indian reservations and reduce poverty, announced Narayana Kocherlakota, president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. Persistent poverty in American Indian communities, passed down through generations, shows the need for more research and energy … Read More
Districts to Receive New AMI Education Funding
Governor Dayton dedicated a total of $14.8 million in his supplemental budget for new American Indian (AMI) educational support for the 2016-17 school year. Learn where AMI Students are in Minnesota MREA has learned that every school district, charter school, and BIA school that enrolls 20 or more AMI students will receive a base of $20,000 and a concentration factor of $405 … Read More
Dropout Prevention Forum Coming to MN in April
The 2015 National Forum on Dropout Prevention for Native and Tribal Communities will feature more than 50 presentations emphasizing strategies that work with native students who are at risk of dropping out of school before high school graduation. The forum, “Building Engaging Educational Communities for Native Students,” will be held April 26-29 in Prior Lake. Dr. Sandra J. Fox, who received … Read More
Many Education Bills in the Air
MREA has been especially busy this year advocating on behalf of Greater Minnesota schools. There are a series of bills in the air. Here’s a rundown of what they are by key issue and where they stand at the Capitol as of now. Each includes the bill authors and where possible, links to their text and status at the legislature. … Read More
Tribal Leaders Testify on Behalf of American Indian Students
In front of the House and Senate Education Committees on Wednesday, Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius joined members of the Minnesota Department of Education Indian Education Working Group in requesting additional state funding for several programs that support public schools districts with a large percentage of American Indian students and each of the state’s four tribal contract schools. The presentations followed … Read More
7 Keys to Improving American Indian Student Education
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) presented to legislators today 7 recommendations for improving educational opportunities for American Indian students in Minnesota. The recommendations come from the state’s Indian Education Working Group. Minnesota is last in the nation in the graduation rate of American Indian students. Within the state, AMI students have the lowest graduation rate and the slowest growth … Read More
AMI Recommendations Focus at Capitol
Improving educational opportunities for American Indian students will become the focus this week at the Capitol. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will present recommendations on Wednesday. The presentation will be heard in the Senate E-12 Committee at 8:30 am and in the House Education Finance Committee at 12:45 pm. Learn more. Check to see if the hearings will be web streamed live. Schedules … Read More
MDE Requests Comments on Desegregation/Integration Rules
The Minnesota Department of Education is requesting comments on its Proposed Permanent Rules Relating to School Desegregation and Integration. A new rule has been posted, and MDE will accept comments on the proposed rule until April 10. In the proposed rules, the 20% threshold for protected student percentages is the same as in the previous rule, but students who are American Indian … Read More
MREA Supports Success for Future Expansion
MREA applauds Governor Dayton for addressing the educational achievement and opportunity gap of Minnesota’s American Indian Students (AMI) by proposing an expansion of Success for the Future. This expansion is called for in the 2015 MREA Platform. Minnesota’s AMI students have the lowest graduation rate and the slowest growth in that graduation rate of all ethnic/racial groups. Minnesota is dead … Read More
Governor's Plan Budget Battle Lines Being Drawn
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Affairs Governor Mark Dayton’s release of his 2016-17 budget plan last Tuesday has set the stage for the budget battle that will consume the remainder of the 2015 session. The public’s role — our role — in this process is going to fade sooner than we know it. Now is the time to engage … Read More