Educational Achievement

Improving the educational achievement of Minnesota's students is a strategic priority for MNHS. The Educational Achievement initiative allows MNHS to create partnerships with three school districts--one rural, one suburban and one urban--and evaluate how a variety of educational programs measurably improve student achievement across multiple grade levels over multiple years. The partnership schools also provide significant matching funding to further enrich educational opportunities for their students. Partnership schools receive funding to enrich their history instruction for students in grades 6-12. Over the next five years, MNHS will continue to study the impact of the Northern Lights sixth grade social studies textbook, National History Day in Minnesota and other classroom resources on student learning and engagement. Each school also participates in joint field trips to MNHS sites and museums, including overnight stays. In FY17, partnership activities include summer enrichment programs, internships and job shadowing to address summer learning loss. This partnership gives rural, suburban and urban students the chance to expand their knowledge of Minnesota and American history and to engage in applied and place-based learning opportunities. MNHS educators use the partnership schools to test materials and programs that can then be applied to other schools around the state.