REL Midwest is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to do a 'deep dive' into district World's Best Workforce plans and identify themes and priorities. The goal is to identify emerging trends in district practices and priorities, as well as innovative approaches to meeting the goals of World's Best Workforce.
The World's Best Workforce legislation in 2013 required each school district in Minnesota to develop a plan to address the following strategic goals:
- All children are ready for school.
- All third–graders can read at grade level.
- All racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed.
- All students are ready for career and college.
- All students graduate from high school.
Although districts have the flexibility to establish their own World's Best Workforce plans, the five goals are shared across the state's 553 school districts. Community engagement is a key part of this initiative. Districts are required to work with education stakeholders to develop local goals and plans, and annually report back to the community on progress toward goals and implementing strategies. The summary reports are shared with MDE. Currently, MDE reviews and provide feedback on the plans, but also has expressed an interest in having an external partner synthesize common themes and priorities.
This project also provides an opportunity for REL Midwest to collaborate with other federally funded centers working in Minnesota. REL Midwest, the Midwest Comprehensive Center, and the College and Career Readiness and Success Center will develop trainings for district staff to support them in the implementation of plans focused on college and career readiness. In addition, the Midwest Comprehensive Center will work with MDE staff to consider what assistance districts need from the state based on the results of the scan.
For Greg Keith, Chief Academic Officer at MDE, the information generated by this project yields a powerful benefit: "This project is about helping staff at MDE better support districts and understand their needs." Ultimately, the aim is to support Minnesota in developing the skills and knowledge of its students so that more students are prepared for college and careers.
