Reimagining Education
in 2022-2023
This collaborative initiative turns research into action to make our education system better for all Minnesota students.
2022-2023 Highlights
Reimagine Education Grants – We awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to 30 local schools, school districts, and nonprofits that are advancing equity and uplifting youth voices in Minnesota’s K-12 education system. See who we funded.
“Changing the trajectory of literacy instruction in our country is a mammoth task, but one that we are positioned to tackle.”
Legislative Advocacy – In 2023, state lawmakers made landmark investments in Minnesota’s schools, building on years of advocacy and organizing by young people and their families, educators, and school leaders across the state. The Minneapolis Foundation has supported this work for years through grants to a variety of nonprofit partners who are dedicated to addressing the deep racial inequities in our state’s education system. Last year, we deepened our commitment by partnering with the Advancing Equity Coalition, a multiracial movement of Minneapolis families, students, teachers, and community members that brought a policy agenda to the state capitol for the first time. Watch the policy briefing we held with AEC in February 2023.
Convening School Leaders – We teamed up with the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development to sponsor the LEAD Conference, which supports education leaders in improving PreK-12 school systems to disrupt pervasive racial inequities.
Minnesota Principals Survey – Teaming up with education experts at the University of Minnesota, we launched a groundbreaking survey of school principals statewide. Since the results of the first survey came out in 2022, we have continued to partner with the U on this project. Last year with our support, researchers conducted follow-up focus groups with principals, then shared what they learned in policy and practice briefs designed to elevate the voices of principals with superintendents and legislators.
To help ensure that policymakers continue to benefit from the insights of principals, we are currently advocating for state funding to continue the Minnesota Principals Survey. Watch the brief video below to hear from the researchers and school leaders who were part of the inaugural survey.
Inspired by this work? Learn more about innovative community efforts to support school excellence on our Learning Hub or Reimagine Education webpage.
