"The Minnesota School of Excellence program clearly connects the education process to student learning."
The Minnesota Elementary
School Principals’ Association (MESPA) developed this research-based
program aligned with national standards in: leadership, vision, student
learning, the culture of adult learning, data and decision-making, and
community engagement. MESPA endorses schools whose principal, staff,
students, and community -- working as a team -- demonstrate the desire
to strengthen education by successfully undertaking the Minnesota
School of Excellence program. This school improvement process is
recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. It involves a
systematic program of self-study, development of a school improvement
plan, and implementation of the plan based on demonstrated results. Click here for complete details on the Minnesota School of Excellence application process.
“The
School of Excellence Program takes schools on a meaningful analytical
endeavor, engaging staff and community in purposeful conversations
about their school,” stated Matt Dorschner, Minnesota School of
Excellence Program chair. “It is the premier way to identify current
strengths and areas needing improvement for a school. The reward of the
analysis is two-fold. First, it takes measure of where a school is and
reveals where it needs to go. Second, it creates a wonderful
opportunity for communities to celebrate their school – and to connect
 | | Principals from schools receiving 2008 MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence validation: (l-r, back) Rolf Carlsen, Matt Dorschner (program chair), Mike Conner, Pat Murray; (l-r, front) Sally Berg, Tim Cadotte, Jon Clark, Rosalind Robbins. Not pictured: Randy Pederson. |
to their role in the school’s accomplishments.”
"The
total commitment to excellence demonstrated by schools receiving Minnesota School of Excellence validation is the very center of quality education in this state," said P.
Fred Storti, MESPA executive director. “Elementary and middle level
schools provide the foundation in meeting children’s educational needs
-- and as instructional leaders, principals play an essential role in
assuring that the foundation is a solid one.”
“In this time of high stakes testing, the quality of our school communities can far too easily be misrepresented by the single-purposed federal testing requirement,” Storti continued. “High stakes tests, such as the MCA II tests used to evaluate Minnesota schools for Adequate Yearly Progress as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, offer a snapshot in time with no context. One high stakes test should not determine a school’s public stature and cannot adequately assess its educational effectiveness. Elementary and middle level schools provide the foundation for children’s lifelong learning, and the Minnesota School of Excellence program clearly connects the education process to student learning."
To
view a list of the 135 schools that have been endorsed as Minnesota
Schools of Excellence since the program's inception in 1986, click on
the MN SOE History PDF below. The Minnesota School of Excellence validation remains in effect for seven years. After that time has passed, MESPA encourages school communities to re-initiate the process of self-study and submit a new application.
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