Equity

Equal Opportunity Schools

We are intentionally working to ensure that low income students and students of color enroll and succeed in rigorous coursework which leads to more students graduating and attending college, trade school, and having choices about their next step.

Click here to learn more about equal opportunity schools

Innocent Classroom

South St. Paul Public Schools received a major grant from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to bring Innocent Classroom training to our staff. In the next two years, Innocent Classroom will help us:

• Transform classrooms and relationships by deepening relationships with staff and students, particularly our students of color
• Increase equity throughout the district
• Undermine the impact of societal negative stereotypes, low expectations, and bias
• Provide an environment where all students are free to achieve

Next Steps:

• Ongoing leadership training, planning and coaching
• Training for the licensed staff at the Secondary Building 2019-20
• Training for the licensed staff at both Kaposia and Lincoln Center 2020-21
• Creating and implementing systems of support for individual schools
• Introduce concepts at district staff launch

“Kaposia’s time spent with trainers from Innocent Classroom was some of the most reflective and impactful training our staff have received to date. We attempted to answer the question of how can we create an environment for our students to return them to their original state of innocence.  We strive to this so students can be at their best as they grow into healthy young people. The focus was not simply about supporting them to raise academic achievement, rather, our goal is to create an atmosphere that values and affirms all students, their backgrounds and experiences.”

Terry Bretoi, Kaposia Education Center Principal

Equity Alliance MN

The South St. Paul Public Schools are part of a district collaborative working with Equity Alliance MN. This collaborative addresses the educational issues resulting from demographic changes and inequities. Equity Alliance MN member districts engage in culturally responsive learning opportunities for staff, and interactive leadership opportunities for students. The end goal is that every student can participate fully in the social, economic, and democratic lives of their communities.

Parents In Action/Padres en Accion

Parents in Action or Padres in Accion is a FREE, six-session course that shows parents/guardians how school works, what resources are available, and how to be more effective advocates for their child. The course give insights into how families can help their child be more successful in school. Classes are available in both English and Spanish and a graduation ceremony is held at the end of the course.

FREE dinner and child care is also provided so that parents can attend the course. This course is offered for parents with students of all ages. Classes are offered at each of our school sites. Sign up for your school newsletter to get notified when classes are offered:

• Preschool
• Lincoln Center Elementary
• Kaposia Education Center
• Middle School/Secondary

American Indian Education Program

The District is honored to have formed an American Indian Education Program. The District and the Indian Education Program look to strengthen and support the diverse families by providing a culturally appropriate educational environment. Our goal is to provide meaningful, intentional, and targeted educational opportunities to every American Indian student, while at the same time fostering cultural identity and pride.

The purpose of this program is to increase academic achievement, decrease the drop-out rate, and to improve the school climate of American Indian students in a culturally appropriate manner. In Minnesota, this program addresses five specific goal areas, with a special focus on ensuring that all children are ready for school, all racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed, and that all students are college and career ready.

An example of the FREE services available through the Indian Education Program here in South St Paul include, but are not limited to:

• Academic support
• Family/community resources and advocacy
• Cultural events and activities
• College visits & post-secondary preparations
• Resource library featuring Indigenous authors

We encourage you to complete a 506 Indian Student Eligibility Certification form. This fully CONFIDENTIAL document allows the school district to leverage funding to support American Indian students and will be kept on file at the District’s Indian Education Office.

You are also welcome to join us as part of the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee! We welcome your input! Please contact our community liaison for questions and or additional information.

Contact Information

Chris Johnson
American Indian Community Liaison
johnsonc@sspps.org

American Indian Parent Advisory Committee

In South St. Paul, we now have close to 40 American Indian students attending school, kindergarten through grade 12. Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78 requires that all Minnesota school districts with 10 or more American Indian students have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee. If you are interested in participating, please contact Chad Schmidt at chad.schmidt@sspps.org or 651-457-9416.

As part of the Assurance of Compliance, all districts must verify that there is a copy of each of the following laws in every building in the district. Below are links to the required laws. This assurance is given by each district in consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining any and all federal grants, loans, contracts, property, discounts, or other federal and state financial assistance extended to the district by the U.S. Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), including installment payments after such date of application for federal financial assistance and state aid allotments which were approved before such date. By submitting the Assurance of Compliance, the district recognizes and agrees that such federal and state financial assistance will be extended in reliance on the representations, supporting information required by Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.42, subdivision 3, and agreements made in this assurance. This assurance is binding on the district and the persons who are authorized to submit information on behalf of the district.

Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting