Message from the CommissionerOffice of the Commissioner :

This page will feature regular messages from Commissioner Seagren, addressing timely and vital education topics and issues.

Week of May 14 - 18

I’m very pleased to announce the launch of a new Website for parents of Minnesota newborns! The Minnesota Department of Education, along with members of the Legislature’s early childhood caucus and leaders in early childhood health and education, announced the launch of MNParentsKnow.info, a Website that offers Minnesota parents a convenient source for trusted knowledge on their child’s health, learning, development and safety. MNParentsKnow.info is hosted by the Minnesota Department of Education and was developed as part of the Educate Parents Partnership, an early childhood initiative of Governor Tim Pawlenty funded by the 2006 Legislature.

MNParentsKnow.info includes extensive interactive media, including more than 75 short videos (1-5 minutes), public service announcements and podcasts on child development, learning and health. Other resources parents will find on MNParentsKnow.info include:

• A-Z Parenting Topics: information in various formats such as video, audio and printable materials.
• Developmental Milestones: child development milestones that reflect typical child development.
• Find a Program: an interactive search tool for publicly funded early childhood programs.
• Everyday Parent to Parent: moderated bulletin board in which parents can share their ideas about child development issues and strategies.

The Minnesota ParentsKnow Website is available at http://MNParentsKnow.info

Week of May 7 - 11

Congratulations to Michael Smart, the 2007 Minnesota Teacher of the Year! On Sunday, May 6, I greeted attendees of the 2007 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Banquet and congratulated the 11 finalists, including winner Michael Smart. Mr. Smart teaches Japanese language classes at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School through Intermediate School District 287’s World Language Programs. The work of a teacher is critical to preparing our students for the 21st century. Minnesota is grateful for the leadership these finalists show in the classroom and for their commitment to our state’s future. View the Education Minnesota press release.

Week of March 4- 10

Frederick Douglass once said that “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Even though Minnesota is heralded for its commitment to education, we have one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation. That is why we must make fundamental changes to close the achievement gap now by improving accountability in our system of education and to raise expectations for every Minnesota student.

We must also focus our resources where they are needed the most. That’s why the Governor’s World-Class Students initiative seeks to focus resources on at-risk students who are not ready for kindergarten. Specifically, it would create a scholarship to provide up to $4,000 per at-risk student the year before kindergarten for a rigorous kindergarten readiness program. The Governor’s plan would also work to close the achievement gap by:

Improve Educational Offerings in School Readiness, Head Start and Child Care

• Improve existing early childhood programs by providing compensatory instruction to accelerate literacy and language development, mathematical thinking and to incorporate formative assessment

Strengthen Head Start Programming

• Expand partnership between Serve Minnesota and Head Start with focus on reading Increase Remediation Instruction for Students in Need Provide additional funding under the extended time program for students that need assistance in reading, writing or math at any grade level. The program would provide for options that may include intensive services or to extend the school day but cannot be used to supplant existing programming

Special Education Services

• Link special education funding to the general education funding formula. This will ensure that special education funding increases match the increases to the general education funding formula

To learn more about the Governor’s World-Class Students initiative.

Week of February 11- 17

When I went to high school, we watched films on projectors, copies were made with ditto machines, and we used slide rules to help us practice our math. While most of those classroom tools have gone the way of the dinosaurs and been replaced with more effective tools, the high school format itself has changed little over the years. As a result, it has become less effective.

As Gov. Tim Pawlenty has noted, our education system was largely designed in a bygone era, with students with bygone behaviors, preparing for a bygone economy. Clearly, the time has come to reinvent and reinvigorate our high schools for the 21st century and take our students from nation-leading to world-competing.

Pawlenty is proposing to do that through his World-Class Students initiative, which will encourage high schools to utilize innovative new formats and create "3R" high schools. The "3Rs" are rigor, relevance and results. The governor's "3R" proposal is also designed to help build stronger relationships between parents, administrators and educators, which is essential to improving student achievement.

I've been working to promote the Governor's innovative approach to high school reform through a series of op-eds appearing in publications throughout the state. This excerpt is from a recent piece that you can read online in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Week of January 21- 27

Minnesota has a long tradition of leadership in education. I believe we can take a big step toward maintaining that tradition with Governor Pawlenty’s World-Class Students initiative, which is designed to take Minnesota schools from nation-leading
to world-competing. As part of his education budget, which increases education spending 7.7 percent from the current budget, the governor has introduced a number of initiatives to increase student achievement and prepare them to compete in a new global reality. For example, the governor’s initiative would:

• Encourage high schools to utilize innovative new formats to create “3R” High Schools that meet the demands of a more competitive global future. The initiative would also require every Minnesota high school student to take at least one year of post-secondary courses in high school and earn dual credit. “3R” funds would be available to all Minnesota high schools that implement six components, which are designed to improve achievement and prepare students for the 21st century. For example, creating personal graduation plans for students. Receiving “3R” high school funds would in no way be contingent upon the number of stars received by a high school on Minnesota’s School Report Cards or any other performance measure.
• Train more effective teachers by expanding the Q Comp program and creating math and science academies for educators.
• Increase rigor by focusing on math and science and requiring students to take four years of a second language.
• Close the achievement gap by providing up to a $4,000 scholarship for at-risk students the year before kindergarten for a rigorous kindergarten readiness program offered through existing public and private programs.

As I travel around the state in the next few months, I look forward to discussing these proposals with Minnesotans and working with legislators to develop the best possible system of education for our children.

Week of January 1- 7

This week, Education Week released the 2007 Quality Counts report. This year’s report found that Minnesota ranks third in the report’s Chance-for-Success index. According to the report, “the Chance-for-Success framework allows states to identify strong and weak links in its residents’ educational life course – their typical trajectory from childhood through adulthood.”

I want to thank all of you for all that you do to make our system of education one of the best in the nation. We can be proud that in many ways, it is leading the nation when it comes to education. But we can’t allow that pride to lead to complacency. I hope we can all continue working together to improve our system of education to prepare our students for a more competitive global future.

Week of October 29 - November 4

The Minnesota Department of Education is moving ahead with its work on revising the state’s academic standards in math. The open application process for selection to the Math Standards Committee was completed early in October and they began work immediately. The committee is a diverse group of teachers, parents and representatives from higher education and the business community. The revision of the current K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics document is based on public comment, subject-area expertise and current research.

The technical writing team is currently in the process of finalizing the 1st draft based on recommendations from the Standards Committee. The final standards document is scheduled to be completed by the end of January, 2007, when it will be presented to the Minnesota Legislature for consideration. More information including names of standards committee members and a timeline for the process are available on our Website.

Week of October 22 - 28

The Minnesota Department of Education and its business, high tech and higher education partners have launched an online tool kit to help students make the connection between the “real world” and STEM classes. This exciting and interactive Website, www.mn-stem.com, gives students a chance to learn more about the world of opportunity available to those who take more STEM courses.

The STEM tool kit also allows students to see the central role that knowledge of STEM subjects play in the day-to-day lives of several Minnesota professionals, including a photographer, recording engineer, architect, automotive engineer and a forensic scientist.

This week, every Minnesota high school should receive materials, including posters and mouse pads, promoting the online tool kit. We are inviting teachers and counselors to utilize these materials and encourage students to visit the new Website.

The STEM materials and online tool kits are made possible with the assistance of a $2 million grant from the National Governors Association to help students acquire the skills they need to successfully gain employment and fully access life’s opportunities in the 21st century.

Week of October 15 - 21

Reminder: Seven Regional STEM Forums Scheduled Over the Next Several Weeks

Representatives from the business and education community, teachers, students and parents are invited to participate in an important state-wide dialogue. Please join us as we share ideas to advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education efforts in our state.

Together, we'll engage in conversations to create new partnerships and establish a pipeline of STEM activities to prepare Minnesota high school students to achieve in the global marketplace.

There is no cost to attend the forums, but space is limited and registration is required. The Minnesota Department of Education will cover a half day for teacher substitutes for school release time required for forum attendance. Mileage will be at the expense of the school. The remaining seven regional forums are listed with dates, times and locations. Choose the one that works best for you:

• 10/23 North High School (North St. Paul) 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m
• 10/24 Patrick Henry High School (Minneapolis) 9:00 a.m.-Noon
• 10/30 Brooklyn Center Senior High (Brooklyn Center) 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m
• 11/1   Bemidji Senior High School (Bemidji) 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m
• 11/2   Moorhead Senior High School (Moorhead) 9:00 a.m.-Noon
• 11/3   Jefferson Senior High School (Alexandria) 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m
• TBD   St. Paul area 

I  also want to encourage you to share this invitation with your local principals. Contact Colleen Riley from the Minnesota High Tech Association at (952) 230-4552, or criley@mhta.org for additional information.

Week of October 8 - 14

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Minnesota’s two Milken Educator Award winners, Jacquylynn Brickman of Elizabeth Hall International Elementary in Minneapolis and Isis Roper of Crossroads Science Elementary in St. Paul. Research shows that having a talented teacher in the classroom is the most important school-based factor impacting student achievement.

When I spoke with Celeste Caty, Roper’s principal at Crossroads, she said, “Her compassion for her kids and her dedication to just every detail truly make her a special teacher.”

Interim Minneapolis School Superintendent Bill Green, who was also in attendance at the award ceremony for Brickman, praised her as one of his best history students, during his tenure at Augsburg College.

The Milken Family Foundation sponsors these awards which honor educators’ exceptional work. The events are part of the Milken Family Foundation's 20th Anniversary Awards Tour, during which up to 100 top educators will be rewarded. The Milken Educator Awards were conceived by Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken to attract, retain and motivate outstanding talent to the teaching profession. Ms. Brickman and Ms. Roper will join the Milken Educator Network, a rich resource of educators and other influential leaders accessible to fellow teachers, legislators, school boards and others who are shaping the future of education. All Minnesotans can be justifiably proud of these teachers.

Week of September 24 - 30

As we begin the new school year, it would be well to remember that each school district in Minnesota is required to adopt a district crisis management policy. The purpose of this Crisis Management Policy is to act as a guide for school district and building administrators, school employees, students etc. Each plan should address a wide range of potential crisis situations. In addition, the final policy should include up-to-date contact information, and be reviewed by school personnel in each building. Click to view the department's model Crisis Management Policy.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has produced the Emergency Planning and Procedures Guide for Schools. This helpful guide contains general information to assist communities in creating response plans for all types of emergencies including: fire, hazardous materials, weather emergency, bomb threat, hostage or shooting. It includes information on evacuation and lockdown procedures and tips regarding communications planning and strategy.

Week of September 17 - 23

We’re seeking applicants for the Minnesota Math Standards Revision Committee. The new committee will begin the process of analyzing and recommending changes to Minnesota’s current math standards.

The revision committee will revise the math standards to align with the knowledge and skills needed for college readiness and advanced work. The standards must also be revised to align with a new law, proposed by Governor Pawlenty and passed by the Legislature, requiring Algebra I by 8th grade and Algebra II to graduate from high school. Technology and information literacy standards must be embedded into the standards as well.

Applications must be submitted by September 29. The committee will hold its first meeting on October 11. The Department of Education is encouraging a diverse cross-section of Minnesotans, including educators, parents and representatives from higher education and business. For detailed criteria, read news release.

 he education commissioner will also identify 8-15 members of the Standards Committee who possess technical skills to draft revisions to the standards based on direction provided by the Standards Committee. Applicants can apply at: http://education.state.mn.us/StandardsCommittee/

Week of September 10 - 16

You are invited to participate in an important state-wide dialogue.  Please join members of the business and education community as they combine forces with students and parents to advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education efforts in the state. 

A total of 12 STEM Forums will be offered in Minnesota: 

The forum invitation can be viewed at: http://education.state.mn.us/super/STEMInvit1.pdf

Week of August 20 - 26

MDE’s Education Booth kick-off event at the Minnesota State Fair featured an entertaining Knowledge Bowl competition hosted by Governor Tim Pawlenty. The governor acted as moderator for the two teams – one composed of five student champions from around the state and the second, composed of five local media personalities. Students representing Moorhead, St. Anthony Village, Chaska, St. Thomas Academy and Redwood Falls faced media opponents from FOX 9, WCCO-TV, AM 1500, KSTP-TV and KARE 11. Though a typical Knowledge Bowl event would include questions from 15 topic areas, questions within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) areas were emphasized in order to promote this year’s booth theme – STEM. It was a close contest, but in the end the students came out on top.

Education booth events scheduled this week: demos and activities, featuring students and staff from the Anoka-Hennepin Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) on Friday. On Saturday, department staff will provide some fun with math and on Sunday, August 26, middle-school students from the Future City Program will describe their award winning project that will be displayed in the booth. The program teams engineers with students to design a future city using engineering and CAD software.

I’m very excited about the lineup of activities we have at the fair to promote the Governor's STEM initiative and what it can do to improve our children’s lives. I invite you to visit our booth for any of the events I’ve mentioned or to talk with me about any education issues that concern you. See you at the Fair!

Week of August 13 - 19

I want to thank all the participants in this year’s Superintendent’s Conference. We are confronting a variety of challenges in Minnesota and I applaud the participants for their sense of purpose and commitment. Conference attendees addressed a variety of Minnesota K-12 issues revolving around the need for high school reform and the need for greater rigor in the science, technology engineering and mathematics subject areas. Keynote speaker, Dr. Susan Sclafani, of the Chartwell Education Group, spoke of how other nations are aggressively improving their educational systems.  Governor Pawlenty, who has been pushing school reform initiatives throughout his governorship, discussed the need for greater rigor in high school classrooms in light of these global concerns.  I look forward to building on our strong educational foundation as we work together to prepare our students to meet the challenges of the global workforce.

Week of July 31 - August 5

I wish to invite all of you to visit us in the Education Building at the Great Minnesota Get-Together, August  24 – September 4. The Minnesota State Fair is always great fun and we’re doing our part. Our kick-off event this year is the Knowledge Bowl, which will have student participants matched against local celebrities. We’ll have visitors from the Anoka-Hennepin District explaining their Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP); a variety of career planning programs will be featured; a visual arts and theater arts program will be highlighted, members of the Math League will be there to talk about their competitions, and other events throughout the Fair. From this list you might have guessed what we’re promoting this year - greater participation by students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), both in the classroom and in their career choices. I plan to visit the booth often during the run of the Fair and look forward to meeting and talking with Minnesotans about the education issues of concern to them.

Week of July 23 - 29

The 2006 Superintendents’ Conference is fast approaching! This year’s conference will focus on high school reform and the need for greater rigor in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject areas. The conference will be held on August 16 at the Bloomington Sheraton and is open to superintendents, charter school directors, administrative staff and high school principals. Governor Pawlenty and I will kick off the event and our keynote speaker will be Dr. Susan Scalfani, managing director of Chartwell Education Group in Washington, D.C.

• Conference registration is available online

A block of rooms is being held under Minnesota School Board Association for attendees that may require overnight lodging. Please call the Sheraton at (866)
837-4278 and ask for the Minnesota School Board rate ($101 for a single or double occupancy, plus tax). Please contact Joe McQuillen with questions at (651) 582-8756. Registration deadline is Wednesday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m.

I hope to see you there!

Week of July 17-21, 2006

The results released this week from the ACT Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) highlight the need to encourage more Minnesota students to explore careers in science and high-tech fields. The interest inventory portion of the EPAS showed that only 10.8 percent of eighth-graders and 20.9 percent of tenth-graders express interest in pursuing a future in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

This level of interest in STEM fields is unacceptable. It’s essential that we encourage more students to consider pursuing careers in those fields. The Department of Employment and Economic Development has released economic forecasts which project a 20-33% increase in scientific and technical occupations in Minnesota in ten years.

This fall, the Minnesota Department of Education will launch a comprehensive statewide communications effort to encourage more students to take STEM courses. Those efforts will include a summit for high school students, which will highlight STEM career opportunities available in Minnesota.

To view the entire press release, visit the MDE Website: www.education.state.mn.us  

Week of July 7-14, 2006

 I recently returned from China where I and a group of Minnesota educators visited schools in the capital, Beijing and the city of Xi’an, southwest of Beijing. I was impressed by the well-disciplined, highly motivated students and the high importance attached to educational achievement in their society. Teachers there get more time during the school day to spend on professional collaboration and class preparation but class size seemed much higher than here in Minnesota. We left with insights into the Chinese education system and a better appreciation of what works best in our own.

While Minnesota leaders have, in recent years, looked to greater economic ties to China, it is important for Minnesotans to see our relationship in a broader sense. The Pawlenty administration has proposed an initiative for developing a statewide articulated Mandarin Chinese curriculum and encouraged school districts across Minnesota to consider hosting a Chinese teacher through the Minnesota/China Teacher Exchange Program.

I want to thank the China Center and Dr. Hong Wang, from the University of Minnesota, who facilitated this rewarding and educational trip, and who have offered their help with teacher exchanges and curriculum.

To learn more about the China Teacher Exchange Program or sign up to participate in helping to develop curriculum, visit our Website at www.education.state.mn.us . Read the recent editorial in the Star Tribune.

Week of June 26-30, 2006.

I am pleased to announce a new proposal from Governor Pawlenty that will address two important concerns for all Minnesotans: college access and the need for students to take more math and science courses in high school. Academic Competitiveness Highlighting Individual Excellence and Valuing Education (ACHIEVE) is a landmark program that would offer Minnesota high school students, who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class or post a comparable ACT score, an opportunity to attend their first two years of public college for free.

We are always looking for ways to motivate our high school students to attain good grades and ACHIEVE could help do that, while also working to keep the best and brightest high school graduates at home in Minnesota colleges and universities and increase the number of Minnesota college graduates with strategic math and science degrees. Under the Governor’s proposal, students with families with annual adjusted gross incomes at $150,000 or below would be eligible.

For more information about this proposal, please see the article under “In the Spotlight” on our Web site at www.education.state.mn.us