Category Archives: IRRATF

Integration Task Force Meeting: 10 January 2012

I did not take notes at this meeting. Almost all the testimony can be found on the official task for website.

During this meeting the task force took testimony for over six hours from a cast of dozens. Every testifier, except the community members at the end, got at least ten minutes to testify and enjoyed a question and answer session with the task force. Students, parents, and teachers from the community were tucked in at the end with only two minutes apiece and no questions. In fact, a few task force members were not even present for that final testimony.

More about the task force on our Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force page.

Integration revenue task force seeks testimony

Minnesota’s Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force is seeking public testimony at its 1/10 meeting. They have set aside time at this all-day session to hear from the public, giving each person 2-3 minutes. Please consider requesting a slot to share your thoughts with the task force, even if you don’t get called to testify, your 300-450 word written testimony will be shared with the task force.

So far the task force has heard from administrators from various school districts around the state, including our own Jerry Robicheau and Christina Gillette, and from lawyers and social scientists arguing the effectiveness of integration efforts. Recent stories in the Star Tribune (which includes a picture from Crosswinds!) and MnPost provide some insight into this testimony and the dynamics of the task force. Most remarkable, given the task force’s name, is that they have not yet ruled out a continuation of integration funding of some sort.

The task force asks these questions of the public, and your testimony can help answer them:

  • What meaningful links are there, if any, between racially integrated schools and students’ educational outcomes?
  • What educational opportunities are at risk, if any, for all students (not just poor and minority) if we make changes to integration revenue in Minnesota?
  • Historically, considering how districts responded to Minnesota’s school desegregation rule, what worked and what didn’t work (educational structures, strategies, and programs)? Why?
  • What are the current measures of success in a given district? Are they data-driven? What should the measures of success be?
  • How should Minnesota allocate the dollars that, in the current biennium, are going to integration revenue?

The task force needs to hear from you by the end of next week, 12/30, if you wish to testify. Please review their Request to Speak form (PDF). Other documents from the task force can be found on the Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force website.

MinnPost: Task force on school integration policy hears sharp debate

Beth Hawkins writes a story in MinnPost covering the integration task force: “Task force on school integration policy hears sharp debate.”

Joining them was the architect of Minnesota’s last two legal challenges to school segregation, attorney Daniel Shulman, who criticized the state for failing to enforce the law and said he’s willing to go back to court to fix that. . . .

“If parents come to me with complaints, I will file suit again,” he continued. “And I will do it for free because this is just that important.

“The incidence of an inadequate education falls 100 percent on the children who receive that inadequate education. It stunts their lives. And it has virtually no impact on those who created the inadequacy.”

The article goes on to discuss questions of constitutionality and the arguments made by social scientists with different views on how integration has affected the achievement gap. A good read!

Star Tribune: Cost vs. benefit steers debate over future of integration aid

Corey Mitchell writes in the Star Tribune: “Cost vs. benefit steers debate over future of integration aid.”

The current state program to help promote integrated classrooms expires in 2013 and the 12-member task force faces a February deadline on whether to continue spending the money to combat segregation, or, as GOP members of the Legislature have argued, use the money for literacy programs and other efforts to narrow the state’s achievement gap between white and nonwhite students.

Ending school segregation and closing the achievement gap should be dual goals, state Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul and a task force member, argued Tuesday.

“If this turns into a choice between integration and closing the achievement gap, that’s a false choice,” Mariani said. “There’s no winning that.”

Fun fact: the Star Tribune article includes a picture of Jeff Parker from the EMID-SOS community input session at Crosswinds in September 2011!

Integration Task Force Meeting: 20 December 2011

These PDF notes of the 12/20 meeting are not official minutes, these are very biased and raw notes. Don’t expect fairness, balance, or completeness! I am just trying to be quick at communicating what is happening on the task force. Initials generally refer to task force members, a list of whom can be found at the official task for website.

During this meeting the task force took testimony from experts in the field, including social scientists and lawyers. Dan Schulman says, “I am ready to bring a case.”

More about the task force on our Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force page.

Robicheau and Gillette testify to integration revenue task force

Interim Superintendent Robicheau and EMID Board Chair Cristina Gillette testified to the state’s Integration Revenue Replacement Task Force on Tuesday, 12/13. They even brought along Robert Rostrom, the EMT graduate of EMID some of you may remember testifying at the October board meeting. Rostrom reiterated to the task force that “Crosswinds let me become the person that I am.” These are the reports Robicheau and Gillette shared with the task force:

Integration Task Force Meeting: 13 December 2011

These PDF notes of the 12/13 meeting are not official minutes, these are very biased and raw notes. Don’t expect fairness, balance, or completeness! I am just trying to be quick at communicating what is happening on the task force. Initials generally refer to task force members, a list of whom can be found at the official task for website.

During this meeting the task force took testimony from many school administrators including the chair of EMID’s board and EMID’s interim superintendent.

More about the task force on our Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force page.

Integration Task Force Meeting: 29 November 2011

These PDF notes of the 11/29 meeting are not official minutes, these are very biased and raw notes. Don’t expect fairness, balance, or completeness! I am just trying to be quick at communicating what is happening on the task force. Initials generally refer to task force members, a list of whom can be found at the official task for website.

During this meeting the task force took testimony from Tom Gillaspy, State Demographer, and Tom Melcher, MDE Finance Officer.

More about the task force on our Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force page.

Integration Task Force Meeting: 15 November 2011

NOTE: These are not official minutes, these are very biased and raw notes. Don’t expect fairness, balance, or completeness! I am just trying to be quick at communicating what is happening on the task force. Initials generally refer to task force members, a list of whom can be found at the official task for website. …Eric

MDE will not be as involved in this task force as in many other committees and task forces. This TF is much more independent. It is a public TF and we can expect that packets and information prepared for the TF will be available on the web.

How to best allocate funds previously allocated per MS 124D.86
$40M for 2014 and $68M for 2015
This statute is now repealed for FY2014

124D.855 newly enacted to outlaw school segregation… Does not condone separating students based on demographic, ethnic, or racial criteria.

Achievement gap purpose was first put in law in 2009 and effective for the 2009/10 school year. Only in its second year.

Green asks for clarification about repurpose. Brenda says that the special session provided urgency to the conversation by sunsetting the provision. Dollars are still there for 2014-15, but what will we do with them after that?

Kirsten, this is a wonderful opportunity to be innovative and creative. She sees repurposing = replacement. Mariani, would not support using a different word and thinks that repurposing offers a lot of room for creativity.

Orfield, points out that Judge Larson never found our districts “unitary” and there may still be an ongoing obligation that would be important to understand.

Anne Parks… Rule has the force of law, but is trumped by statute. Rule will stand even after revenue statute dies. No action to remove rule.

www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us School District Integration Revenue report
Judy Randall presented

Seems odd that this whole meeting is about integration aid, rather than thinking beyond integration. Orfield pointing to Justice Kennedy and Title Six ruling for guidance.

Battle nominates Peter as chair. Ericsson nominates Thomas. TF decides not to nominate the legislators. TF adopts unanimously.

Note that integration transportation aid was not amended by the legislature and is not on the cutting block at this time.

Tuesday’s from 1:30-4pm in CCA Room 13: 11/15, 11:29, 12/13, 12/20, 1/10, 1/17, 2/7. Maybe hold final meeting at statehouse.

END OF NOTES, more about the task force on our Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force page.