School Transformation - Minneapolis Public School District

High school students working together at desks

Why is MPS going through a transformation process?

Minneapolis Public Schools started the School Transformation process to ensure we can fulfill our mission and vision more effectively. This transformation is driven by the need to improve outcomes for students in a sustainable way.

By reviewing programs, services and physical spaces, MPS will make better use of its resources. Using the strategic plan as a roadmap, MPS will enhance the quality of education for all students, creating more robust and supportive learning environments.

What is most important to your family? Take our survey!

As part of the School Transformation process, a community engagement project is gathering feedback on parent and caregiver priorities for the district.

Take our survey

Where have we been?

Our School Board passed a board resolution initiating the school transformation process in December 2023. This resolution identifies 4 key areas of focus:

Physical space study

This includes factors like utilization, accessibility, essential spaces and enrollment capacity.

Community engagement

Identifying different engagement opportunities throughout the entire process for stakeholders.

Priority-based budgeting

Transparently identifying efficiencies by categorizing spending and ensuring funds are prioritized in alignment with the strategic plan.

Spanish dual language task force

Review and make recommendations about the purpose and goals for Spanish dual language programing and funding sources across MPS.

Like many school districts across the state and country, MPS faced a large budget shortfall for the 2024-25 school year due to a variety of factors, including the end of federal COVID-19 funding. Public schools have been chronically underfunded and state and federal aid has not kept up with inflation, resulting in increased costs for the same goods and services. The loss of federal emergency funds coupled with rising costs requires us to continue evaluating how and where we allocate our limited resources.

On Nov. 26, 2024 an update about school transformation was shared with the school board.

Access the slide deck

Watch the school transformation update

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Physical Space Study

The data dashboard provides key information about each of our buildings, including when they were built, square footage, enrollment capacity, capital investments and more.

Walkthroughs and discussions with stakeholders have been conducted in all 69 schools and programs.

View comprehensive reports on each building and grade band roll-ups

Design Enrollment Calculation Methodology

Though physical space walkthroughs and analysis occurred in all MPS programs (with the exception of Stadium View, which is part of the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center), a Use and Utilization report was not created for Federal Setting IV Special Education sites, Alternative Learning Centers, and Early Learning Centers due to their highly specialized programs that require a more unique review and make comparisons less meaningful. Those sites include Harrison, Heritage, Longfellow, River Bend, Transition Plus, MPS Online and Wellstone.

Commitment to Transparency: The MPS Data Dashboard

By providing accessible, up-to-date information on various aspects of our district, MPS aims to keep stakeholders informed.

The Data Dashboard offers insights into key metrics such as student achievement, school performance and resource allocation. This tool empowers parents, students, staff and community members to stay informed about our progress and challenges. Making this data readily available is part of our commitment to continuous improvement and provides key information regarding our physical spaces.

The data dashboard will be updated soon to reflect updated enrollment numbers. Once that process is complete, translated information will be available.

What's next?

MPS has established working committees for each of the four areas of focus outlined in the Board’s School Transformation resolution and participation included in each of those areas. The committees are also working collaboratively to ensure that we can be efficient and move this critical work forward.

Select each committee below to see the latest updates and information:

Physical Space Study

Community Engagement

Priority-based Budgeting

Spanish Dual Language Taskforce

Community Engagement

The Engagement Department has completed a review of feedback that we’ve received from caregivers dating back 10 years. This review included 44 documents.

Read the summary report

Español Soomaali Hmoob

Access the documents reviewed

What's next?

MPS has established working committees for each of the four areas of focus outlined in the Board’s School Transformation resolution and participation included in each of those areas. The committees are also working collaboratively to ensure that we can be efficient and move this critical work forward.

Select each committee below to see the latest updates and information:

Physical Space Study

The data dashboard provides key information about each of our buildings, including when they were built, square footage, enrollment capacity, capital investments and more.

Walkthroughs and discussions with stakeholders have been conducted in all 69 schools and programs, and you can find comprehensive reports on each building as well as grade band roll-ups here.

Physical Space Study

Community Engagement

The Engagement Department has completed a review of feedback that we’ve received from caregivers dating back to [year]. This review included 44 documents

Read the summary reports:

English
Somali
Hmong
Spanish

Access the documents reviewed

The transformation process in this area started with last year’s budget process as MPS is required by law to pass a balanced budget. In order to close the gap, there was a one-time use of $55 million from the assigned fund balance.

Thank you to Minneapolis voters for passing the tech levy ballot question, which will bring an additional $20 million in revenue, reducing cuts to other programs and services for next school year.

MPS is starting to see enrollment stabilize as we are seeing an increase by [number] students.

MPS will continue to reduce expenses and finding operational efficiencies, advocate with the state and federal government and transform how we educate and serve students using the strategic plan as our roadmap.

Additionally, during this year’s budget process, all programs and services will be evaluated based on impact. Equity considerations will also be a part of this year’s budget process for all programs, which is a standard practice for MPS every year.

Commitment to Transparency: The MPS Data Dashboard

By providing accessible, up-to-date information on various aspects of our district, MPS aims to keep stakeholders informed.

The Data Dashboard offers insights into key metrics such as student achievement, school performance and resource allocation. This tool empowers parents, students, staff and community members to stay informed about our progress and challenges. Making this data readily available is part of our commitment to continuous improvement and provides key information regarding our physical spaces.

Community Engagement

MPS is committed to keeping stakeholders informed and engaged throughout this process. The engagement committee is working to identify multiple engagement points to ensure stakeholders have a variety of opportunities to be informed, provide feedback and partner with MPS as we move through this transformation process.

The committee's next step is to review recent feedback we’ve received from stakeholders, including but not limited to Comprehensive District Design (CDD), Parent Participatory Evaluation (PPE), Equity & Diversity Impact Assessments (EDIAs), listening sessions, etc.

Priority-based Budgeting

The transformation process in this area started with last year’s budget process as MPS is required by law to pass a balanced budget. In order to close the gap, there was a one-time use of $55 million from the assigned fund balance. MPS has developed several strategies to fulfill the directives in the board’s resolution, including the following:

reducing expenses and finding operational efficiencies
adding the November 2024 tech levy ballot question, which could bring an additional $20 million in revenue, reducing cuts to other programs and services for next school year
increasing student enrollment
continuing advocacy with the state and federal government
transforming how we educate and serve students using the strategic plan as our roadmap

Additionally, during this year’s budget process, all programs and services will be evaluated based on impact. Equity considerations will also be a part of this year’s budget process for all programs, which is a standard practice for MPS every year.

Spanish Dual Language Taskforce

Priority-based Budgeting

The transformation process in this area started with last year’s budget process as MPS is required by law to pass a balanced budget. In order to close the gap, there was a one-time use of $55 million from the assigned fund balance.

Thank you to Minneapolis voters for passing the tech levy ballot question, which will bring an additional $20 million in revenue, reducing cuts to other programs and services for next school year.

MPS is starting to see enrollment stabilize as we are seeing an increase in students.

MPS will continue to reduce expenses and finding operational efficiencies, advocate with the state and federal government and transform how we educate and serve students using the strategic plan as our roadmap.

Additionally, during this year’s budget process, all programs and services will be evaluated based on impact. Equity considerations will also be a part of this year’s budget process for all programs, which is a standard practice for MPS every year.