Vision:

Every child in Minneapolis Public Schools receives a high-quality education.

Mission:

Develop the political will to eliminate institutional racism in Minneapolis Public Schools.

According to Minneapolis Public Schools’ policy 1304, institutional racism is defined as, “the collective failure of a public or private organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their race, color, culture or ethnic origin which can be seen or detected in practices, processes, systems, attitudes and behavior. It looks beyond individual acts of prejudice to the systemic biases that may be built into institutions. These systemic biases discriminate against and disadvantage people of color through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness or racial stereotyping”.

AEC Definition of high-quality education:

A high-quality education fosters a sense of belonging and honors the brilliance every child brings into the classroom by providing them with the academic, social, and emotional skills to thrive in life and college in the 21st century. A high-quality education engages and challenges students through curriculum and instruction that reflects every part of their identity and values the assets, skills, and experiences they bring into the classroom. A high-quality education centers both proficiency and growth that are measured using diversified assessments that are culturally responsive and are communicated in a way that is useful and actionable for families. A high-quality education is tailored to the individual needs of every child in partnership with the child’s caregiver and is facilitated by highly effective teachers that embody the experiences of students and can ensure students feel seen.

A high-quality education at minimum provides students with:

Academic Skills

  • Able to read and write in English effectively
  • Conversational in a second language
  • Strong foundation in math skills
  • Strong critical thinking skills
  • A multicultural perspective of global history

Social Skills

  • Ability to build relationships
  • Conflict resolution
  • Time management skills
  • Self-Identity Development
  • Lifelong learning

Emotional Skills

  • High self-esteem
  • High self-worth
  • Coping mechanisms to manage stress

Our Values

  • Accountability Through Relationships
  • Raising Consciousness on Broken Conditions
  • Data and Stories
  • Cross Racial Organizing
  • Racial Equity

 

Our Policy Priorities

We support MPS and are invested in its success – but we can’t and won’t sit by while children of color get a lesser education. We are focused on addressing these 5 ways that institutional racism denies our students of color a high-quality education in MPS:

  • Resource and opportunity hoarding in white, wealthy communities
  • Irrelevant Curriculum and Instruction
  • Race Neutral Policies and Practices
  • Lack of Accountability Structures
  • Devaluing BIPOC communities and their cultures