[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Minneapolis to withdraw from WMEP

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Minneapolis to withdraw from WMEP
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1235491274.shtml


   Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Dr. Bill Green, Superintendent of
   the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), [1]wants to withdraw from the
   West Metro Education Program (WMEP). MPS is broke and WMEP isn't
   working. "I just need to direct our resources more towards
   restructuring and right-sizing Minneapolis schools proper," said
   Green.
   WMEP is a [2]Joint Powers School District set up in 1989 to improve
   racial integration among its member districts, including my own
   Robbinsdale Area Schools. Without Minneapolis, WMEP may have to
   disband.
   The stated mission of WMEP is to
     * Build the collective capacity of its members.
     * Raise the achievement of all students.
     * Eliminate the racial achievement gap.
     * Prepare all learners to thrive in a diverse world through regional
       leadership, integrated learning opportunities, shared resources,
       and mutual support.

   It sounds wonderful, but there's apparently no evidence that it's
   working. Allow me to quote a couple of comments on the Star Tribune
   site:

     "A school administrator who can publicly admit that a social
     engineering program didn't work! Good for you Bill Green. If kids
     were just allowed to go to the schools closest to where they live
     the world would be much simpler, less expensive, and neighborhoods
     ultimately more stable. Kids who don't speak English need to learn
     it. We had a similar problem 100 years ago and everyone seemed to
     learn English because they had to. Desegregation is about economics
     and housing, not about yellow buses and grand schemes. It isn't
     1965 anymore. People live where they can afford to not where
     realtors put them by color."

     "If, after 20 years, WMEP has not [achieve] its [desegregation]
     goals, then it should be abolished. Does not matter how good the
     magnet schools are. The goal is to provide better education for
     minorities, and education for minorities has not improved over the
     20 years. Having WMEP is simply throwing money away."

   District 281 should also reevaluate whether WMEP justifies whatever
   resources it consumes, whether or not Minneapolis withdraws.

References

   1. http://www.startribune.com/local/40175782.html
   2. http://www.wmep.k12.mn.us/