Research & Publications
Our work is constantly responding to the needs of our community, local research on best practices, and nationally proven solutions toward more great schools.
Community Voice
School Performance Framework Working Group
For years, families have shared that while our Minneapolis School Finder academic rating is helpful, the measurement tool needed to go beyond academic outcome to include information that more holistically assessed school quality.
To respond to this request, we formed a working group in 2021 with members who represented schools, community-serving organizations, and policy/advocacy organizations. This working group hosted focus groups and conducted surveys to guide the redesign of the school measurement tool. Thanks to this collaborative effort, the Minneapolis School Finder now has more comprehensive data that includes academics, climate, and equity measures.
We piloted the comprehensive rating in 2022 and hosted focus groups and virtual events in Hmong, Spanish, and Somali that drew more than 250 community members.
Resources
- School Performance Frameworks: Lessons, Cases, and Purposeful Design via Bellwether Education Partners
- Sample frameworks from Chicago and Washington, D.C.
- ‘The case for an accurate picture: Parent mindsets on education,’ (Learning Heroes)
National Site visits
Washington, DC Learning Walk
In March 2023, we organized a trip to DC for 19 educators in our network. The DC city school district recently implemented its DCPS Becoming Program: a whole child work plan rooted in the science of learning and development. Over the course of the trip, our group of principals, deans of culture, social workers, and teachers visited 3 schools to understand their unique approaches to adopting the DCPS Becoming program.
Following our trip to DC, our team used feedback from participants and documented best practices to develop a school self-reflection rubric rooted in the 5 design principles of the science of learning and development.
Resources
- Learning Policy Institute, Whole Child Education
- Design Principles for Schools: Putting the Science of Learning and Development Into Action (Learning Policy Institute and Turnaround for Children)
Research and Publications
Partner Publications
Shared Strategies: An Examination of Bellwether’s School Cohort Program
In their newest analysis, Bellwether provides an overview of the Cohort Program and its work with two schools supported by Great Minnesota Schools.
In case studies of these two schools – Global Academy and Prodeo Academy – Bellwether shares lessons learned, and reflection from school leaders on their experience. Huge shoutout to both schools for investing the time, energy, and hard work needed to take their schools from good to great.
Read the full analysis and featured case studies to learn more!
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