Minnesota Education Equity Partnership

MINNESOTA EDUCATION EQUITY PARTNERSHIP USES A RACE EQUITY LENS TO TRANSFORM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR AND AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS ACHIEVE FULL ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP SUCCESS.

BUILDING EQUITABLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES & CAPACITY OF LEADERS TO LEAD WITH EQUITY LENS (REEEN): MNEEP SEEKS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO PURSUE EQUITY GOALS BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH HEADS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND FOR PARENTS, STUDENTS AND CIVIC ACTIVISTS. IN 2021-2022 THIS OVERALL GOAL WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING:1. SUPPORTING THE LA CRESCENT-HOKA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE 7 HILLS CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DEVELOPMENT OF RACE EQUITY TRAINING FOR THEIR SCHOOLS 2. BEGAN A SECOND TWO-YEAR "RACE EQUITY SUPERINTENDENTS LEADERSHIP NETWORK" IN CONCERT WITH MANKATO STATE UNIVERSITY (MNSU) TO PROVIDE RACIAL EQUITY TOOLS, SKILL AND WILL-BUILDING SUPPORT FOR A GROUP OF 12 SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS. DREW 6 NEW PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING 2 FROM NORTH DAKOTA.

(#TEACHMN2020) CREATE AND RETAIN A RACIALLY DIVERSE TEACHER WORKFORCE (TOC): IN SHIFTING SYSTEMS CULTURE, MNEEP PROVIDED NEW TOOLS AND PROCESSES FOR CROSS-SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS TO RACIALLY DIVERSIFY AND RETAIN THE STATE'S TEACHER WORKFORCE. IN 2021-2022, THIS GOAL:1. WORKED WITH THE MN STATE TEACHER LICENSING BOARD (PELSB) TO PRODUCE NEW TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LICENSING STANDARDS AS PART OF THEIR "NEW STANDARDS FOR EFFECTIVE PRACTICES" IN ORDER TO ADVANCE CULTURAL AND RACIAL COMPETENCY SKILLS. THESE WERE FORMULATED INTO LAW THROUGH THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PROCESS.2. SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS OF THE MN TEACHERS OF COLOR/AMERICAN INDIAN TEACHERS COALITION (MN TOCAIT) TO ADVANCE STATE LEGISLATIVE POLICIES FRAMES.

IMPROVE HIGHER EDUCATION EQUITY (MCAN): IN ARMING SYSTEMS WITH NEW RACE EQUITY INSIGHTS, MNEEP CONTRIBUTED TO NEW EMPIRICAL-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF POCI COMMUNITY REALITIES. IN 2021-2022, THIS GOAL:1. CONVENED THE COLLEGE RACE EQUITY ADVOCACY ADVISORY COUNCIL (CREAAC) TO DIRECT AND GUIDE POLICY ADVOCACY THROUGH STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION. INCLUDING SHAPING BILLS AND OFFERING PUBLIC INFORMATION TO ADVANCE THEM. 2. DEVELOP A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON RACIAL EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION.3. HELD A SERIES OF MEETING WITH PRIVATE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS, THE MNSTATE CHANCELLOR AND WITH THEIR SYSTEM LEADERSHIP STAFF, AND WITH KEY AGENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO SOLICIT RESPONSE TO MNEEP RESEARCH AND SHARE ADVOCACY APPROACHES FOR SHIFTING HIGHER EDUCATION PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY. 4. SUPPORTED POLICY ADVOCACY IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR REFORM OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID AND FOR STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS TARGETED FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS STUDENTS.