Minnesota P-20 Partnership outlines priorities after private funding boost

St. Paul — Josiah Latent, executive director of the Minnesota P‑20 Education Partnership, told the Senate Education Policy Committee on Feb. 24 that the statutory, multi‑sector coalition is working to strengthen alignment across early childhood, K‑12, higher education and workforce partners.

The partnership, codified into state statute in 2009, aims to “create a seamless system of education that maximizes achievement of all students from early childhood through postsecondary education,” Latent said. He described the P‑20 as an intermediary that “builds stronger seams” among agencies, institutions and nonprofit partners rather than delivering direct services.

The report Latent provided to the committee summarized recent work and next steps. He said the partnership developed new mission, vision and commitment statements last year and completed a theory of change. The P‑20 also restarted efforts on integrated data use in collaboration with the state longitudinal data systems (SLEDS and ECLDS) to help organizations connect and use data across sectors.

Latent highlighted a project called Credentials of Value — a matrix the partnership’s subcommittee developed to help prospective students and workers assess which postsecondary credentials are likely to lead to family‑sustaining wages and labor demand. He also said the P‑20 convened a Financial Wellness Education and Access Summit at the University of Minnesota last year to focus on transitions from secondary to postsecondary education and work.

Latent told senators the partnership was selected this month for the next phase of a national dual‑enrollment cohort led by the College and High School Alliance. “Seven states were selected in a competitive process,” he said, and Minnesota will use coaching from the alliance to develop a statewide vision for dual enrollment over the next two years.

Latent said the partnership received nearly $500,000 in private philanthropic support from the ECMC Foundation and the Joyce Foundation to support two years of work, including strategic planning and advancing priorities identified in the annual report. He said Joyce has provided prior support and ECMC is a new funder.

On workforce and educator supply, Latent said the P‑20 will work with the governor’s workforce development board and others to examine educator workforce development as part of its 2025 agenda. He said the partnership is convening members across sectors to identify where the coalition adds value without duplicating existing programs.

Committee members asked about membership and engagement. Latent said the partnership has 26 voting member organizations that include statewide agencies, higher education institutions, nonprofits and legislative members and that members typically meet virtually with at least one in‑person meeting each year. He described the group’s dynamics as positive and focused on areas of agreement and joint action.

Why it matters: The P‑20 partnership is positioned to coordinate cross‑sector work on dual enrollment, educator supply and data alignment. The newly announced private funding gives the partnership staff capacity to pursue strategic planning and statewide outreach over the next two years.

Latent concluded by encouraging senators and the public to review the partnership’s annual report and slides, which he said are on the P‑20 website and were distributed to the committee.