Robbinsdale Area Schools presents state-required achievement, integration reports; board opens public hearing

Robbinsdale Area Schools officials presented the district's annual Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) and Achievement & Integration (ANI) reports during the school board meeting on Nov. 3, 2025, and opened a public hearing on the CACR report.

Becky Brodeer, senior director of teaching and learning, told the board the district uses a data-driven continuous improvement cycle—plan, do, study, act—to align state accountability requirements with district strategic goals. Brodeer said the district met near-universal kindergarten screening rates but continues to see a persistent gap in reading proficiency between white students and students of color, with that gap widening slightly in 2025 on statewide MCAs.

The district reported gains in students' access to career and technical education and postsecondary credit-bearing courses compared with the prior year, but Brodeer said the combined increase did not meet the stated 10-percentage-point growth goal. She also noted a dip in the four-year graduation rate and said an influx of newly enrolled students from other countries may be a factor because such students often require more time than four years to earn a diploma.

Beth Tepper, director of achievement and integration, reviewed ANI goals aimed at increasing racial and economic integration and improving outcomes for protected-class students. Robbinsdale is identified by the Minnesota Department of Education as a racially isolated district, she said, and the district's two racially identified schools are Meadowlake Elementary and Northport Elementary. Tepper outlined targets to raise the percentage of licensed staff of color from about 7.6% in 2024-25 to 10% by 2026 and repeated the district's target to raise protected-class proficiency and graduation measures by 2026.

Tepper highlighted the district's summer Freedom Schools program, noting the district increased the share of participants from racially identified schools from 20% to 31% by specifically reserving spots for Meadowlake and Northport students. She also described partnerships with educators and community organizations to support culturally affirming instruction.

During board questions, Director Hillenbrand asked how potential school consolidations could affect recruitment and retention of staff of color. Tepper and Brodeer said the district's 'grow your own' pipeline and recruitment efforts are priorities to mitigate such impacts and that additional work with the curriculum advisory group and building leaders will inform any plan changes. Director Hutto asked whether MCA subgroup percentages for newly enrolled students were available; Tepper said the district can bring those percentages back at a future meeting. Director Long asked what concrete changes the district plans to close persistent gaps; Tepper said the district will solicit board and community feedback, engage the district curriculum advisory committee and bring revised goals and actions to the board.

Brodeer said the district has purchased Xello software to support a new lifelong-learning goal for students in grades 6-12 and that 2025-26 will be an implementation year; board members requested that staff return with more detail on the platform's activities and how the district will measure participation and outcomes.

The CACR presentation served as the public hearing for that state report; no audience members signed up to speak to the CACR topic during the meeting. District leaders said legislation requires submission of CACR/ANI information each fall and that they will return to the board with additional analyses and subgroup data in coming months.

The district's presentation materials and the board meeting video are posted on the Robbinsdale Area Schools website.