PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE
PAGE 3
Equity Achievement Plan aims to
increase student achievement for all
The mission statement for the Anoka-Hennepin
School District calls for district schools to effectively
educate each student for success. Increasing
the academic achievement for all students while
reducing and eliminating predictable and persistent
achievement gaps between student groups is at the
core of the recently implemented Anoka-Hennepin
Equity Achievement Plan.
Background
In the spring of 2017, parents/guardians, students,
community members, business leaders, cultural
representatives and other stakeholders from Anoka-
Hennepin and throughout the region participated in
a metro-wide discussion on educational equity called
Reimagine Minnesota. Participants were tasked to
envision a new model of education designed to more
effectively ensure success for all students. Students
from all Anoka-Hennepin high schools were active
participants in the process.
The Reimagine Minnesota outcomes led to a desire
to gather information and analyze district level data
to identify areas of strength and opportunities for
improvement within Anoka-Hennepin. The School
Board, therefore, added the creation of an Equity
Achievement Plan as a strategic priority. The data
collection phase was completed from April to
September 2018. From there, a 25-member, cross-
functional Student Services Advisory Committee
identified key themes and opportunities for building
capacity for educational equity.
Three priority domains
Over the next three school years Anoka-Hennepin
will focus efforts on strategies and action steps aligned
to three priority educational equity domains.
1. Climate
Ensure the school environment supports high
achievement for all students and that a strong
bridge between school and community supports
student outcomes.
2. S
tudent engagement
Elevate student voice and leadership and
challenge all students academically to reach their
optimal level of achievement.
3. Curriculum
Ensure curriculum, assessment and teacher
professional development is culturally aware,
inclusive and responsive.
Implementation will be phased over three years
from 2019-2021 with ongoing evaluation and annual
refinement. Ensuring each student is able to reach
their highest aspirations and potential is the goal.
Review the entire plan at ahschools.us/
equityachievementplan n
Equity Achievement Plan
The plan includes 8 strategies and 41 action items; all aligned to three priority equity domains:
Climate
1
Eliminate ineffective adult
behaviors and ensure policies do
not lead to disproportionality;
provide growth-oriented student,
staff and family support.
Recruit and retain staff of color.
Build bridges between school and
community.
Create and sustain consistent shared
understanding of equity and a high level
of skill application for leaders at all levels.
Student engagement
Elevate student voice
and leadership and
improve/ensure
inclusiveness in school
culture and environment.
Curriculum
Develop and
implement culturally
inclusive
curriculum and
assessment systems.
2 3
Prioritize and ensure
personalized education with
an emphasis on acceleration
vs. intervention. Provide culturally responsive
teaching professional
development for all staff who
work directly with students.
Superintendent column
continued from page 1
100,000 viewers have enjoyed it. If you
have yet to see it, I invite you to check it
out on our ahschools.us website or on the
district Facebook page.
An added bonus this year was the
inclusion of Kat Perkins, a local “rock star”
musician who gained the national stage
as a finalist on the television show, The
Voice. The daughter and granddaughter of
educators, Kat has a passion for teaching
and helping students. Kat joined the band
as lead singer in our video and provided
an inspirational message for our staff at our
districtwide convocation event.
As Kat sang her new song “Fearless,”
staff members reflected on the motivating
lyrics, “What would you do if you weren’t
afraid?” It’s a call for all of us to take on
those challenges that are the toughest
to face. Too often the safest, least
controversial path keeps us from moving
forward and prevents us from making
progress. The message sets a motiviating,
positive tone as the school year begins for
staff and students alike.
This issue of the Focus has examples
of students and staff who have achieved
“rock star” status. Know that our hallways
and classrooms are filled with many more.
This year, when you see a staff member or
student doing something that merits some
special recognition, feel free to reach out
and say to them “you’re a rock star.”
Rock stars overcome the odds. They are
passionate and fearless in their approach.
They look forward to the encore so they
can give more. They exceed expectations.
Let’s have a rockin’ great 2019-20 school
year. n
Implementation to be phased over three years (2019-2021)
with ongoing evaluation and annual refinement.
Seeking parents/guardians to participate in
Special Education Advisory Council
Anoka-Hennepin is seeking parents/guardians to
join the district’s Special Education Advisory Council
(SEAC) for the 2019-20 school year.
SEAC is comprised of parents/guardians of students
in the district who receive Special Education services.
The intent of SEAC is to advise Anoka-Hennepin on
different aspects of special education, such as policies,
procedures, and communication.
According to Stacey Dahlby, the district’s director of
Special Education for secondary schools, the council
is really a partnership between parents/guardians and
the school district. The first SEAC meeting will be held
on Oct. 10, with three other meetings to follow on
Nov. 14, Feb. 27, and April 16. Child care is provided
by the district, and meetings are always held at the
district’s Educational Service Center, 2727 N Ferry St.
in Anoka. A light meal begins at 5:30 p.m., with the
meeting commencing at 6 p.m. for about 90 minutes.
RSVP by filling out a form at ahschools.us/seac, or by
contacting Mary Gale at 763-506-1362, or Mary.Gale@
ahschools.us. Parents/guardians who wish to be part
of SEAC are asked to make an effort to attend all four
meetings as council members. n
Standards-based reporting at middle, high schools
During the 2019-20 school year, in select
mathematics, physical education, and health classes at
the middle and high school level, Anoka-Hennepin will
be piloting a change to the way student grades are
determined and communicated.
“As a district, teachers are moving away from
the traditional grading practices of averaging and
percentages,” said Kim Pavlovich, Anoka-Hennepin’s
director of secondary curriculum. “Instead, teachers
will use the most recent evidence to know, in real time,
where a student is with regard to their knowledge of a
particular standard.”
What does moving to a standards-based reporting
mean to parents and students? First, the report card
is not changing. So when students and parents look
at the report card, they’ll still be earning As, Bs, etc.
But gone are the days of averaging a student’s scores
on assignments and tests to reach an overall grade,
or earning extra credit to recover from a missed
assignment.
The shift to standards-based reporting will occur in
phases, with some mathematics, health, and physical
education courses piloting this year, and other courses
moving forward in following years. The transition
should be done by the 2023-24 school year.
If students and parents/guardians have questions
about standards-based reporting, they’re encouraged
to ask teachers about the changes. n
Join
our
team!
Anoka-Hennepin is hiring
Have you ever considered working for
Anoka-Hennepin schools? The district
employs teachers, substitutes and
paraeducators, but has many positions
outside of the classroom, including
cooks, bus drivers, secretaries, nurses,
custodians and many others.
Whether you’re looking for a part-
time job or a career — working for
Anoka-Hennepin schools is a rewarding
employment opportunity that’s also
fulfilling — most employees recommend
Anoka-Hennepin as a great place to work.
Learn more at ahschools.us/jobs. n