(adopted from Board Briefs)
The Minneapolis Board of Education voted to give notice to the West Metro Education Program (WMEP), a voluntary school district integration partnership, that it intends to discontinue its participation in the partnership, effective for the 2013-14 school year. WMEP bylaws require that member school districts give an 18-month notice before withdrawing from the partnership. In order for MPS to have the flexibility to end participation in WMEP for the start of the 2013-14 school year, notice must be given by February 1, 2012.
No final decision about the status of the WMEP partnership has been made. A school board vote would be required to make any change in WMEP participation. If the school board determines after evaluation to continue the partnership, MPS will be able to withdraw the notice and remain a partner in WMEP.
Minneapolis Public Schools is committed to integration as an important value and strategy to enhance academic opportunities for all students. The legislature has directed a taskforce to consider repurposing integration funding, which will impact resources available to MPS and other programs like WMEP. As a steward of public resources, the school district is charged with using funds efficiently and effectively. The uncertainty of obtaining funding for WMEP at the state level influenced the need to examine the effectiveness of the program in regards to integration and academic achievement. The recommendation to withdraw from WMEP will prepare MPS and its students, families and partners for potential changes related to integration funding.
The one-and-a-half year notice will give adequate time for an evaluation of the WMEP partnership. As with any partnership, MPS will examine data to determine whether the efforts closely align with and contribute to the newly updated academic strategic plan and, specifically, whether students have achieved successful academic results and whether other benefits have been realized as a result of participation in WMEP.
The school district will clearly communicate its intentions with families so that they may make informed school choice decisions for the 2013-14 school year. The school board and superintendent plan to engage WMEP families and stakeholders in the decision-making process in the coming months.
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