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District reports progress on Achievement and Integration program; funding and survey methods explained
Summary
District staff reported Year 2 progress under the Achievement and Integration (ANI) program, described qualifying criteria (adjoining a racially isolated district), goals and funding of $183,000 annually, and survey-based metrics limited to participating students.
Dr. Erin Yamalen briefed the board on Year 2 of Jordan Public School District’s Achievement and Integration (ANI) program, a Minnesota Department of Education initiative to pursue racial and economic integration and reduce academic disparities.
Dr. Yamalen said the district qualifies under ANI “number 2” as an adjoining district to a racially isolated district (Shakopee). She summarized four primary goals: cross-district “caring and committed conversations” for grades 6–12 with an 80 percent self-reported comfort target by 2026; student leadership groups across K–12; Tier 1 MTSS instruction improvements; and increased elective study halls and “Reach” study halls for grades 5–12 to support academic and social-emotional learning. She reported the district is “on track” for most goals and “partially on track” for Tier 1 instruction because of committee restructuring that changed data collection.
Dr. Yamalen described assessment methods: students who participate in the ANI leadership groups complete a locally developed Likert-style survey that measures self-reported comfort in areas such as speaking in large groups and connectedness to school. She emphasized the survey is administered only to participating students, and therefore growth tracking applies to that program cohort rather than to the full student population.
On funding, the presenter said ANI funding to the district is $183,000 per year. Staff explained the grant typically pays portions of salaries (for example, a 0.5 culturally responsive pedagogy specialist) while other portions may be paid from APAC or district general funds; staff said the district does not exceed the ANI grant but may supplement programs from other budget lines as authorized during regular budgeting.
Board members asked whether districts can opt out of ANI funding; Dr. Yamalen said she was not certain whether a district could decline funds but added no partner districts have chosen to opt out. The board took no formal action on the ANI update; it was presented as an informational item.
