School Transformation

MPS is focused on improving the student experience through increased support, access to more choices and expanded extracurricular opportunities for all students. Optimizing the MPS footprint means additional resources would be available to deploy to schools allowing for a more consistent and reliable learning experience across all schools.

As a result of footprint and resource optimization, MPS students would have access to a comprehensive academic experience in every school every year. This means:

• consistent core academic learning defined by the Minnesota Department of Education Academic Standards with necessary individualized academic support 
• consistent and reliable access to social emotional supports and skills development
• consistent and realizable access to beyond the core academic and extra curricular activities including career connected learning, advanced academics, early college credit, athletics, clubs and more

Yellow bus transportation depends on proximity to school, the school or program(s) students attend, student age and the individual needs of the student. Families are encouraged to see the slide deck to learn more about transportation options.

To learn more about the proposed changes, visit the following pages on our website:

• Proposed Community School Options
• Proposed Magnet School and Program Options
• Proposed Specialty and Alternative Schools and Programs
• Interactive Map

Families are encouraged to see the slide deck to learn more about transportation options. One of the parameters from the school board included increasing choices for families, so we look forward to helping families find the best school for their child.

Before- and after-school programming will be available. Details including specific locations will be provided pending board action.

School hours and start times would remain the same for most schools. Depending on board action, some schools may need to adjust start times to align with transportation schedules and student needs.

Pending board action, open houses and other community events will be made available to families as they explore their options for next school year.

Pending board action, staffing decisions would be made in alignment with collective bargaining agreements. Proposals do include intentional and thoughtful recommendations to ensure cohorts of students can remain together where possible and if/when families opt into a specific pathway or program, there can be continuity for students and families.

Pending board action, changes would go into effect beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

Class sizes and ratios are prescriptive in our collective bargaining agreements. Any changes would require collaboration with the Minneapolis Federation of Educators (MFE).

Decision making authority on the footprint of the district requires board action and approval. The school board has prioritized community engagement from January 2024 through now.

The district started with reviewing 10 years of parent feedback (view report), and conducted two years of additional engagement including surveys and focus groups centering on caregiver priorities (view report) and feedback about the academic and extracurricular experiences of students. This resulted in the district creating the MPS student experience. More than 40,000 voices were represented.

School staff participated in surveys and focus groups and their feedback is represented in the MPS student experience. The district also regularly collaborates with collective bargaining groups and receives feedback via those forums.

1. Who would benefit from these changes?
   Students would benefit from the proposed changes because more students would have access to the MPS student experience, consistent experiences, stronger programs and reliable and consistent staffing. 
    
2. Who would be negatively impacted by these changes?
   Change is difficult and the district wouldn’t be recommending these changes were they not necessary. If this change doesn’t occur, we will continue to see significant staffing reductions, programmatic reductions and inconsistent student experiences across school sites. 
    
3. Would changes affect groups around the district equitably?
   MPS has shared both a pathway breakdown and an impact analysis by different student groups highlighting the impact of students who currently attend an optimally sized school and the number of students who are projected to attend optimally sized schools under each proposed option. Equity considerations are embedded in our district values and will continue to be a component of School Transformation work as is our standard practice for districtwide data and impact analysis. 

Pending board action, the next phase would be helping families navigate the school request process and ensuring smooth transitions for students and staff. If the board votes for changes to take place in the 2027-28 school year by November 2026, transition planning would begin immediately and last until the first day of the 2027-28 school year.

Academic programming would be more robust, supports for students would be more consistent across buildings and investments impacting student outcomes would be prioritized, including increasing the number of full-time specialists, reading, math and behavior interventionists and more.

Currently, district funding and resources are spread too thin, resulting in fragmented pathways, inconsistent opportunities and staffing variations.

The district has three viable options and is open to feedback and opportunities to improve through the engagement happening this fall.

Resources are currently spread too thin. Savings resulting from mergers and a decreased footprint would be reinvested into the MPS student experience. Transformation also includes four enrollment strategies which would support stabilizing and growing enrollment where possible.

MPS would provide transparent and clear communication as families navigate the change. There will be community meetings hosted at each of our comprehensive high schools this fall so that families can share feedback and ask questions.

Caregivers are encouraged to share their feedback.

With questions, email at answers@mpls.k12.mn.us.

MPS will be hosting staff meetings at proposed impacted sites in late September, and staff will be supported through an internal resource webpage and Human Resources office hours. Additionally, the district will partner with collective bargaining groups to support staff through this process.

MPS would review, monitor and report on enrollment, staffing and other key metrics pending board action. 

Attendance boundaries and cohorts of students were considered with intention as the proposals were developed. Recommendations are informed by data and demographics.

The district is committed to continuous, transparent and accessible communication.

To learn more about the proposed changes, visit the following pages on our website:

• Proposed Community School Options
• Proposed Magnet School and Program Options
• Proposed Specialty and Alternative Schools and Programs
• Interactive Map

To learn more about the proposed changes, visit the following pages on our website:

• Proposed Community School Options
• Proposed Magnet School and Program Options
• Proposed Specialty and Alternative Schools and Programs
• Interactive Map

When it comes to staffing, MPS follows our collective bargaining agreements. Pending board action, more details will be shared about staffing at a later date.

Improving the MPS student experience (informed by the feedback from students, staff and the broader community) is the best step we can take to recruit and retain students.

Over the last two years, MPS has seen enrollment growth. The district started this year with the lowest staff vacancy rate we’ve seen in a long time. For the first time this year, the district did not have to use one-time funds to balance the budget.

MPS is on the right track, and School Transformation is the next important step we must take to build on the momentum we have.

To learn more about the proposed changes, visit the following:

• Proposed Community School Options
• Proposed Magnet School and Program Options
• Proposed Specialty and Alternative Schools and Programs
• Interactive Map

The district looks forward to hearing feedback about the proposals through Oct. 16 to inform a final plan. That feedback will be shared with the school board, who then has the authority to take action.

There are no caregiver expectations or responsibilities changing at this time, but we will ensure ongoing, clear and transparent communication as we move through the process.

One of the goals of School Transformation is to increase enrollment, and to improve the MPS student experience. While the goal is to decrease the physical footprint, recommendations to merge schools are not solely based on size. 

To learn more about the proposed changes, visit the following pages on our website:

• Proposed Community School Options
• Proposed Magnet School and Program Options
• Proposed Specialty and Alternative Schools and Programs
• Interactive Map