1. The Minneapolis Foundation: The Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas
2/27/14

2. ETI PHASE I: MULTIPLE REINFORCING PROBLEMS
Education Transformation Initiative – Multiple, Reinforcing Problems
ETI PHASE I: MULTIPLE REINFORCING PROBLEMS
Worst gaps in the country
Minneapolis has one of the largest $/pupil in the region
Absolute scores also very low
Achievement Gap in Minneapolis
Well-Intended but Ineffective Spending
$243M annually in MN
~$100M in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Less than $3M advocacy and policy
Progress against the achievement gap is 38th in the country
Despite history with charters, performance is mixed with the exception of a handful that are high performing
Over 2/3 of funders prioritizing closing the achievement gap, but no progress
Our economic and community vitality is at stake
Fragmented funding, little or no collaboration
“…widespread coordination among funders that truly
moves the needle on educational outcomes for kids remains elusive.” --MEPRA Report
Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas

3. ETI PHASE I: ENTREPRENEURIAL, LIKE-MINDED, ACTION-ORIENTED PARTNERS
Education Transformation Initiative – Like-Minded, Action-Oriented Partners
Committed
Seeking
Longer Term
Anchor Partners
National Funders
Large Family Foundations
Corporate Foundations
“Deep Pocket” Philanthropists
Funders
Morning Foundation
Ben Whitney
WEM Foundation
Soran Family Foundation
GHR Foundation
Albright Family Foundation
Robbie Soskin
O’Shaughnessy Foundation
David Winton Bell Foundation
Smikis Foundation
Practitioners* …
Harvest Network
Community Leaders*
Mayor Rybak
Minnesota Business
Partnership …
*Not comprehensive; many additional partners engaged
Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas

4. ETI PHASE I: WHERE WE’VE BEEN
January 2013
Moving from complexity to clarity
Good faith effort using proven methodology (systems mapping)
to get our heads around the whole system and all its parts and interdependencies / dynamics
for the purpose of identifying the handful of high-leverage places to push hard
Individual
3 stages to Phase I (mapping phase):
Individual
Integrated
Strategic Framework
Integrated
35+ leaders & focus groups – balanced across expertise domains, demographics
20+ founding funder partners – unparalleled in other communities; seen as a possible model for other cities
Culminated in ETI Strategic Framework and 2-day Strategy Off-Site (January 2014)
Strategic Framework
Phase II will include building out the initiatives and working groups, the funding mechanisms and the structure to support network operations
January 2014
Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas

5. ETI STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK – SYSTEMS MAPPING INSIGHTS
Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas

6. WHAT’S NEXT: MOVING INTO BUILDING STAGE
Education Transformation Initiative
Sandy Vargas