{"id":5820,"date":"2021-09-01T18:37:27","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T22:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fairforall.org\/southern-minnesota\/?page_id=5820"},"modified":"2021-09-17T15:50:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T19:50:38","slug":"mankatos-equity-framework","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fairforall.org\/southern-minnesota\/mankatos-equity-framework\/","title":{"rendered":"Mankato’s Equity Framework For ISD 77 (MAPS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the past year, Mankato Area Public Schools has worked with the Minnesota Education
Equity Partnership (MnEEP) to develop an equity vision and framework for the school district.
This process has been completed, and below is a brief overview of the process and the
recommendations that have been crafted by community stakeholders and MAPS staff for your
consideration at the July 19 School Board meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


You will note one bolded area, under the \u2018MAPS Values\/Commitments\u2019 section.
Recommendations in this area will be shared in final form once input and feedback are collected
from stakeholder groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The Equity Vision and Framework Process<\/p>\n\n\n\n


In the summer of 2020, Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) called upon the expertise of the
Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) for assistance in a formal and collective equity
planning process in the school year 2020-2021. MAPS dedicated itself to do a deep evaluation
of how the system was centering racial equity in their policies and practices, and the degree to
which cultural community groups have provided input on equity, inclusion and school systems
change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The MAPS-MnEEP partnership involved key \u201clearning stops\u201d over the last year: a
pre-assessment race equity review (with over 117 stakeholder interviews and\/or survey input);
a District Leadership Training staff and administrators retreat (with 45 participants); a series of
equity committee meetings guiding best approaches to stakeholder engagement (with 12
committee members); guidance to the teaching and learning department; six parent\/guardian
visioning sessions (with 84 total participants); five youth visioning sessions (with 29 total
participants); and a final MAPS stakeholder strategic retreat (with 23 participants in working
groups).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Based on the learning stops and community feedback, deep engagement with representatives
of the Mankato Latinx, Somali, Sudanese, African American, Asian American and American
Indian community and students, MAPS cultural liaisons, administrators and staff, and nonprofit
partners, five recommendations have been developed for your consideration.
MAPS Mission Statement<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS current mission, \u201cAssuring learning excellence and readiness for a changing world,\u201d was
reviewed at the strategic retreat for an update with new and refreshed racial equity input.
While the statement honors the past, the working groups concluded that a new statement
could be more inspirational and reflect the urgency of equity with the community\u2014and impact
on an ever-changing global society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


In adopting a more inclusive mission statement, the School Board recognizes its role in
embracing each learner and its responsibility to serve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cMankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) is committed to working together equitably, with
families and communities, so that each learner has the knowledge and skills to be successful
and contributing citizens in a diverse global society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS Vision Statement<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The working groups concluded that the current vision statements do not capture a \u201cfuture
state\u201d that reflects what was heard from parents and students around ideas of inclusion, dignity,
equity and what is being committed to for each child. Parent visioning sessions lifted up the
reminder that families sending their children to MAPS want an assurance that their children are
treated with respect, love, and to know that they are truly heard and valued.
In adopting a new vision statement, the School Board acknowledges the value of each learner
and family in the MAPS system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cMAPS vision is that every learner will be seen for who they are inclusive of: race, national
origin, home language, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion. MAPS
learners will experience a school environment that builds their voice and agency. Learners
and families will be seen and heard. MAPS will assure that each learner has the skills to enter
society with a joy for learning, a positive vision for the future and the ability to navigate the
world with hope, dignity and their multiple talents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS Values\/Commitments<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The working groups discussed that MAPS current values need to be infused with more equitable
and inclusive terms, and be more actionable as promises and commitments. It\u2019s also important
to consider how a set of values will be translated and understood in each cultural context in the
community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS actively works to be:
\u25cf Intentionally Inclusive
\u25cf Visibly Equitable
\u25cf Anti-racist
\u25cf Committed to Excellence
\u25cf Accountable for Results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS will reach its mission and vision when:
\u25cf Each student is ready for kindergarten.
\u25cf Each student is reading well by 3rd grade.
\u25cf All achievement gaps are closed.
\u25cf All students are college and career ready by graduation.
\u25cf All students graduate.
\u25cf Each (student, staff, family) feels safe, is welcome and is
treated with dignity and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS Race Equity Lens
A racial equity lens is a vital decision-making tool, at the policy and practices level, because it
slows down decisions to consider who has been historically excluded in shaping a specific policy
or practice–and yet has experienced disproportionate impact by such decisions. When
implemented with fidelity across the system, more inclusive and equitable conclusions can
come forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


By applying an equity lens to its work in policy, finance and governance, the School Board
commits itself to examining multiple perspectives to assure decisions are rooted in an equitable
mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


MAPS Racial Equity Lens Guiding Questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n