January, 2012 Archive

Our City, Our Schools forum gets people talking about Mpls schools

by Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet
Mon January 30, 2012

Two principals from schools that are beating the odds by coaxing higher-than-average test scores out of their low-income and non-white students spoke at AchieveMpls’s Our City, Our Schools community forum, a new monthly event that engages community members in conversations around public schools.

STEP-UP Achieve Summer Jobs Program

Radio interview by Lee Valsvik, Twin Cities Insight
Sun January 29, 2012

Hashim Yonis, STEP-UP Achieve alumnus, and Lucien Justin, a STEP-UP Achieve supervisor at US Bank, talk about their experience with the summer jobs program, which has made Minneapolis one of the nation's leaders in youth employment and work-force readiness and was recently recognized by the White House at a summit on youth employment.

U.S. Education Secretary flogs college goal

by Steve Brandt, Star Tribune
Sat January 21, 2012

South High, which draws many middle class students to its open and liberal arts programs, led the city in 2010 figures with 70 percent of students entering college the fall after graduation. It also had help from an award-winning counseling staff, including AchieveMpls Career & College Coordinator Anne Erickson.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan wowed by South High student enthusiasm

by Beth Hawkins, MinnPost
Fri January 20, 2012

That sudden shift in the barometric pressure you might have felt at about 11:37 this morning? That was the achievement gap narrowing perceptibly in one swift moment. In Minnesota to talk college and career readiness, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted a town hall meeting at Minneapolis' South High School.

Minneapolis' promise opens college to more - Partnership shows gains in getting grads to continue studies.

by Steve Brandt, Star Tribune
Thu January 19, 2012

In 2005, only 45 percent of graduates of the MPS district's seven traditional high schools entered college the following fall. Last year, the district raised that figure to 58 percent. The figure jumps to 71 percent for the share of grads entering college within two years of graduation. That has happened because of new college and career planning rooms in each high school, new scholarship incentives from public universities and a big dose of mayoral cheerleading, according to school and civic leaders.

MPS to launch innovative electronic kiosk tool for families

MPS Communications Office
Tue January 17, 2012

MPS is one of the first K-12 school districts to design and place multi-language information kiosks in high-traffic areas of our city, giving families the opportunity to interact with MPS on a regular basis. Families can access a range of information including school lunch menus, calendars and videos. They can also submit school request cards, subscribe to electronic newsletters and link to parent and student resources on the MPS website.

Local Organizations Sponsor HBCU College Fair

by Charles Hallman, Spokesman-Recorder
Fri January 13, 2012

Over 20 representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities were at St. Peter’s AME Church in Minneapolis on  Martin Luther Jr. King Holiday for the 3rd annual HBCU College Fair, co-sponsored by St. Peter's, AchieveMpls, Minneapolis Public Schools, and other organizations. The fair is designed to help high school students and families explore college options.

Local college fair highlights Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Cynthia Boyd, MinnPost
Fri January 13, 2012

Many black students are intrigued by the idea of going to a majority-black school. That's part of the draw for the local Historically Black Colleges and Universities fair, sponsored by St. Peter's AME Church in Minneapolis in partnership with AchieveMpls, Minneapolis Public Schools and other organizations on January 16 from 3-6 pm at St. Peter's

Homelessness on the rise in Twin Cities schools: Shayla’s story

by Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet
Sun January 08, 2012

Like many of Edison High School’s homeless and highly mobile students, senior Shayla Perry’s* story is full of twists and turns, long bus rides, new neighborhoods and schools full of strangers.

Sharpen your pencils for college entrance exams

by Julie Pfitzinger, Star Tribune
Sat January 07, 2012

For high school juniors, this is the time to prepare for -- or take -- college entrance exams. Featured in this story is AchieveMpls Career & College Center Coordinator Anne Erickson.