The Minneapolis Adequacy Case

1
The Minneapolis Adequacy Case

• A Settlement to Get Things Started

2
The Minneapolis Schools

• More than 70 children of color citywide
• More than 70 free or reduced lunch citywide
• Many schools hypersegregated 95 children of
  color and free or reduced lunch
• Abysmal scores on 8th grade basic skills tests
• Especially for minorities and poor kids

3
The Adequacy Case

• Filed in Hennepin County District Court on
  September 19, 1995
• Alleged Minneapolis schoolchildren deprived of
  state constitutional right to adequate
  educationSheff theory
• Because schools segregated by race and
  socioeconomic status
• Because education in fact inadequate

4
The Settlement

• Complaint survived motions to dismiss
• Interlocutory appellate review declined by
  Minnesota Supreme Court
• In 1998, interest-based multiparty mediation
  commenced
• Settlement reached in June of 2000

5
Why Settle?

• The remedy problem winning on liability and then
  having the court order the legislature to provide
  an adequate education is no solution
• The urgency problem consequences on kids from
  inadequate education are severe and permanent
• The need to make a start at improving the
  situation

6
Parties to the Settlement

• Plaintiffs Minneapolis NAACP and named
  plaintiffs
• State of Minnesota
• Minneapolis School District
• Participating Suburban School Districts

7
Terms The Choice Is Yours Program

• Each year for four years, 2,000 Minneapolis
  kindergarten age children on free or reduced
  lunch may enroll in 8 suburban school systems
• Transportation provided by State
• Entirely voluntary program
• Once a child enrolls, child may stay through
  graduation from high school

8
Terms Minneapolis Enhanced Choice Program

• Greater school choice for Minneapolis students
  living in attendance areas with 90 children of
  color and free or reduced lunch
• Priority in selecting magnet schools
• Priority for kindergarten seats in schools with
  less than 50 students on free or reduced lunch
• Enhanced ability to enter grades 1-5 in less
  segregated schools

9
Terms School Accountability

• Minneapolis School System implements an
  Accountability Program
• Annual report card for every Minneapolis school
• Schools scoring below specified level for two
  consecutive years subject to audit and potential
  fresh startreconstituting of school
• Students at failing schools able to select new
  schools

10
Terms Parent Information

• Commitment by State to inform Minneapolis parents
  of terms of settlement and enhanced school choice
• Dissemination of written materials
• Web page information
• Work with community groups
• Direct assistance with parents

11
What Happened?

• The settlement period is ending
• The Choice Is Yours fully enrolled despite
  States failure to publicize the program
• The suburban districts and State plan to extend
  the program
• Children in the program are doing extremely well
  and their parents are pleased with the program
• State and Minneapolis have obstructed reports
  comparing outcomes for kids in suburban schools
  vs. kids staying in segregated Minneapolis schools

12
The Minneapolis Situation

• Little discernible improvement in Minneapolis
  schools
• System segregation and hypersegregation persist
• For most children of color and children on free
  or reduced lunch, education in Minneapolis
  schools is still inadequate
• It will always be so long as schools are
  segregated