Increasing Rigor and Student Increasing Rigor and Student Achievement in Minnesota’s SchoolsAchievement in Minnesota’s Schools

Presentation by Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Presentation by Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice SeagrenSeagren

ECS National Forum on Policy EducationECS National Forum on Policy EducationJuly 2006July 2006

Building on the Past --Building on the Past --Looking Toward the Looking Toward the

FutureFuture Minnesota has a proud history of leading the Minnesota has a proud history of leading the nation when it comes to student nation when it comes to student achievement. achievement.

While it might be easy to rest on our past While it might be easy to rest on our past success, tomorrow holds new challenges. If success, tomorrow holds new challenges. If Minnesota and its job providers are going to Minnesota and its job providers are going to stay competitive and continue to use stay competitive and continue to use technology to solve some of the biggest technology to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our world, we need to start challenges facing our world, we need to start preparing our students to compete globally. preparing our students to compete globally.

Reforms Key Reforms Key to Minnesota’s Economyto Minnesota’s Economy

Economic forecasts project 20-33% increase in scientific Economic forecasts project 20-33% increase in scientific and technical occupations in Minnesota in ten years.and technical occupations in Minnesota in ten years.

New job growth in professional and hightech industries New job growth in professional and hightech industries will demand an extra 10,500 college graduates per year. will demand an extra 10,500 college graduates per year.

The number of college graduates retiring from the The number of college graduates retiring from the Minnesota workforce will grow from 9,000 to 25,000 per Minnesota workforce will grow from 9,000 to 25,000 per year. year.

Substantially fewer students of color are prepared to Substantially fewer students of color are prepared to take college algebra and college biology. take college algebra and college biology.

Jobs that require as least some postsecondary education Jobs that require as least some postsecondary education will make up more than two-thirds of new jobs. will make up more than two-thirds of new jobs.

Reforms Key to the Future Reforms Key to the Future Success of Minnesota StudentsSuccess of Minnesota Students

Students who complete Algebra II in high school Students who complete Algebra II in high school more than doublemore than double their chances of earning a their chances of earning a four-year college degree.four-year college degree. Source: Achieve Inc. Source: Achieve Inc.

It is It is not only the college-bound who need not only the college-bound who need more mathmore math. Increasingly, well-paying. Increasingly, well-paying jobs that jobs that pay a living wage and allow for career pay a living wage and allow for career advancement require strong mathematics, advancement require strong mathematics, problem-solving and reasoning skillsproblem-solving and reasoning skills as well. as well.

Source: Achieve Inc.Source: Achieve Inc.

What Minnesota is doingWhat Minnesota is doing

Goals Goals

In order to prepare Minnesota Students to compete in the In order to prepare Minnesota Students to compete in the global economy, the Governor, with the help of a $2 million global economy, the Governor, with the help of a $2 million grant from the National Governors Association, has initiated an grant from the National Governors Association, has initiated an aggressive efforts designed to:aggressive efforts designed to:

Improve high school rigor for students Improve high school rigor for students

Improve high school student transitions to postsecondary Improve high school student transitions to postsecondary education education

Implement a P-16 system of accountability for student success |Implement a P-16 system of accountability for student success |

Improve teaching and learning in science, technology, Improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) engineering and math (STEM)

Coordinate P-16 governance for educationCoordinate P-16 governance for education

Governor’s Governor’s reforms reforms

signed into law signed into law

Under legislation passed during the 2005 legislative Under legislation passed during the 2005 legislative session, schools were able to expand their AP/IB session, schools were able to expand their AP/IB programs, students were informed of CLEP options and programs, students were informed of CLEP options and saw expanded access to rigorous assessments for saw expanded access to rigorous assessments for earning college credit. earning college credit.

A proposal offered by Governor Pawlenty, and recently A proposal offered by Governor Pawlenty, and recently approved by the legislature, requires that students take approved by the legislature, requires that students take Algebra I by 8th grade and Algebra II and Chemistry or Algebra I by 8th grade and Algebra II and Chemistry or Physics in order to graduate from high school. The new Physics in order to graduate from high school. The new requirement goes into effect with this year's third-requirement goes into effect with this year's third-graders.graders.

Achieve Achieve

Academic Competitiveness Highlighting Individual Academic Competitiveness Highlighting Individual Excellence and Valuing Education (ACHIEVE) is a landmark Excellence and Valuing Education (ACHIEVE) is a landmark program proposed by Governor Tim Pawlenty. program proposed by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Under the proposed program, all Minnesota high school Under the proposed program, all Minnesota high school students who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class students who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class or post a comparable ACT score would attend their first two or post a comparable ACT score would attend their first two years of public college for free. Students’ third and fourth years of public college for free. Students’ third and fourth years of college would also be free if they major in a math years of college would also be free if they major in a math or science field. or science field.

ACHIEVE students would be required to attend college full-ACHIEVE students would be required to attend college full-time and maintain at least a B average each year they are time and maintain at least a B average each year they are in college.in college.

Governor’s Education Council Governor’s Education Council

The Governor’s Education Council, which The Governor’s Education Council, which meets on a regular basis, promotes a minimum meets on a regular basis, promotes a minimum level of K-14 education for all students. The level of K-14 education for all students. The council is made up of leaders from the council is made up of leaders from the workforce and business community, higher workforce and business community, higher education organizations and government education organizations and government agencies. agencies.

The Governor’s Education Council will establish The Governor’s Education Council will establish 2-year and 10-year goals and benchmarks for 2-year and 10-year goals and benchmarks for P-16 student achievement, including progress P-16 student achievement, including progress in STEM disciplines. Additionally the council in STEM disciplines. Additionally the council will focus on narrowing the achievement gap.will focus on narrowing the achievement gap.

2- and 10-year 2- and 10-year improvement improvement

goalsgoals

Annual student learning gainsAnnual student learning gains Graduation rates and college Graduation rates and college

readinessreadiness Rigorous course-takingRigorous course-taking Remediation in postsecondaryRemediation in postsecondary Increase math/science gradsIncrease math/science grads

Governor’s STEM RoundtableGovernor’s STEM Roundtable

The Governor’s STEM Roundtable was The Governor’s STEM Roundtable was a statewide meeting, which took place a statewide meeting, which took place last March. It was designed to bring last March. It was designed to bring stakeholders (business, government, stakeholders (business, government, nonprofit and education leaders) nonprofit and education leaders) together to begin work on a plan for together to begin work on a plan for new solutions to the state’s needs for new solutions to the state’s needs for skilled, highly educated workers in skilled, highly educated workers in STEM fields. The roundtable is STEM fields. The roundtable is scheduled to release its report shortly. scheduled to release its report shortly.

AggressiveAggressive Communications Communications

This fall, the Minnesota Department of This fall, the Minnesota Department of Education will launch a comprehensive Education will launch a comprehensive statewide communications campaign statewide communications campaign aimed at students and parents to aimed at students and parents to stress the importance of achievement stress the importance of achievement and the value of rigorous courses and the value of rigorous courses including math and science.including math and science.

Communications Campaign’sCommunications Campaign’sKey Audiences Key Audiences

High school studentsHigh school students

Parents of high schools students Parents of high schools students

School faculty and counseling staff: School faculty and counseling staff: Focus on Science Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Focus on Science Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) facultyfaculty

LegislatorsLegislators

Opinion Makers/Media Talking Heads (For example, Opinion Makers/Media Talking Heads (For example, editorial writers and talk radio show hosts)editorial writers and talk radio show hosts)

General PublicGeneral Public

Fall 2006 Summit on STEMFall 2006 Summit on STEM

The 2006 STEM Summit will bring together The 2006 STEM Summit will bring together high school students from across the state high school students from across the state and inform them of the need for more and inform them of the need for more rigorous coursework in the STEM subject rigorous coursework in the STEM subject areas. areas.

Minnesota businesses will also have Minnesota businesses will also have representation to connect with students and representation to connect with students and educate them on how STEM directly relates educate them on how STEM directly relates to the business world. to the business world.

P-16 P-16 Education Education

PartnershipPartnership Study and implementation plan for one P-Study and implementation plan for one P-

16 system to track achievement, 16 system to track achievement, graduationgraduation

Identify needed knowledge and skillsIdentify needed knowledge and skills Align assessments with needsAlign assessments with needs Reduce required remediationReduce required remediation Identify college access programsIdentify college access programs Coordinate postsecondary, career planning Coordinate postsecondary, career planning

Web sitesWeb sites

P-16 Partnership working groups are P-16 Partnership working groups are working on seven separate areas:working on seven separate areas:

P-16 Student Identification SystemP-16 Student Identification System College Access SystemCollege Access System Remediation Study and Action PlanRemediation Study and Action Plan Alignment/Requirements for Readiness and Work Alignment/Requirements for Readiness and Work

Skill/StandardsSkill/Standards Align Math AssessmentAlign Math Assessment Coordination of Web-based Career Information Coordination of Web-based Career Information

sitessites

Additional Reform Initiatives Additional Reform Initiatives

Get Ready,Get Ready,Get CreditGet Credit

College readiness and interest College readiness and interest assessments in 8assessments in 8thth and 10 and 10thth grade grade

College credit for AP/IB programs, College credit for AP/IB programs, CLEP testsCLEP tests

American American DiplomaDiplomaProjectProject

22-state network22-state network Voluntary college, work readiness standards Voluntary college, work readiness standards

in math, science, writingin math, science, writing All take required courses, encouraged to All take required courses, encouraged to

take a college- and work-ready curriculum take a college- and work-ready curriculum and college readiness testsand college readiness tests

P-16 held accountable for academic successP-16 held accountable for academic success

Assistance Assistance to schoolsto schools

5 incentive grants for new technology-5 incentive grants for new technology-engineering-design (TED) programsengineering-design (TED) programs

5 incentive grants for new Lighthouse High 5 incentive grants for new Lighthouse High Schools as models for STEMSchools as models for STEM

5 incentive grants for high school 5 incentive grants for high school programs using digital contentprograms using digital content

5 incentive grants for model programs in 5 incentive grants for model programs in math, science remediation at transitions math, science remediation at transitions points (gr.8-9; 12points (gr.8-9; 12thth gr. to postsecondary) gr. to postsecondary)

Instructional Instructional assistance to assistance to

schoolsschools 80 teachers receive Lesson Study training, 80 teachers receive Lesson Study training,

report changes in instruction, achievementreport changes in instruction, achievement 2000 teachers participate in Surveys of 2000 teachers participate in Surveys of

Enacted Curriculum to align curriculum with Enacted Curriculum to align curriculum with state academic standards and best state academic standards and best practicespractices

75-100 mentor relationships are established 75-100 mentor relationships are established among math, science and career/technology among math, science and career/technology teachersteachers

Lighthouse Lighthouse SchoolsSchools

Expand program for action research and Expand program for action research and reformreform

Four new schools added for math, Four new schools added for math, sciencescience report current learning levelsreport current learning levels implement changes in instructionimplement changes in instruction report improvement in student report improvement in student

achievement, engagement and motivationachievement, engagement and motivation

Math, science Math, science remediation remediation

modelsmodels

All high schools invited to train for All high schools invited to train for and implement new programs and to and implement new programs and to share achievement datashare achievement data

Five model programs funded and Five model programs funded and showcasedshowcased

Career and Career and Technical Technical EducationEducation

Strengthen academic rigor, increase Strengthen academic rigor, increase student pathways to industry certificationstudent pathways to industry certification Collect baseline data on math content, skillsCollect baseline data on math content, skills Five new industry pathway programs, five Five new industry pathway programs, five

model CTE programs fundedmodel CTE programs funded U of M center assessment of regional career, U of M center assessment of regional career,

partnership needspartnership needs

Minnesota Minnesota Board of Board of TeachingTeaching

Minnesota teacher preparation Minnesota teacher preparation programs will prepare teachers for programs will prepare teachers for Minnesota Academic Standards Minnesota Academic Standards requirementsrequirements

Increase number of teacher Increase number of teacher candidates in math, sciencecandidates in math, science

Building on the Past Building on the Past Looking Toward the FutureLooking Toward the Future

““Education made Education made Minnesota what it is Minnesota what it is today, and education will today, and education will make us what we will be make us what we will be tomorrow.”tomorrow.”Governor Tim Pawlenty, 2006 State Governor Tim Pawlenty, 2006 State of State Address of State Address