A month and millions to improve schools

Posted at 1:57 PM on July 29, 2010 by Drew Geraets (0 Comments)
Filed under: Schools

Nineteen of Minnesota's consistently lowest-achieving schools will share nearly $24.5 million of $3.5 billion in federal funds to help turn around student performance.

Schools had to choose one of four models to implement:

Turnaround Model: Replace the principal, screen existing school staff, and rehire no more than half the teachers; adopt a new governance structure; and improve the school through curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

Restart Model: Convert a school or close it and re-open it as a charter school or under an education management organization.

School Closure: Close the school and send the students to higher-achieving schools in the district.

Transformation Model: Replace the principal and improve the school through comprehensive curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

Schools receiving the School Improvement Grants are required to "fully and effectively implement the chosen turnaround model in its entirety by the first day of the 2010 school year," according to a Minnesota Department of Education press release.

In Minnesota, 16 of the 19 schools receiving money selected the transformation model. Most schools in other states are also choosing that model.

Nearby states receiving funds:

Iowa: 18 million
North Dakota: 9 million
South Dakota: 11 million
Wisconsin: 51 million

Here are the schools receiving money in Minnesota:

View School Improvement Grant in a larger map

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