2022 Award Winner: Library Grant
Awarded By: Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries
Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy was one of 300 schools from 44 states across the country to receive a $5000 grant through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. This year, the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries awarded $1.5 million in library grants this year. The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries supports school libraries with the greatest needs with the goal of encouraging all students to develop a love of reading and learning. Since its inception in 2002, it has awarded more than $19.5 million to more than 3,300 schools across the country. Click Here to read the Press Release.
2021-2023 Award Recipient
Awarded By: Minnesota's Comprehensive Arts Planning Program
Minnesota’s Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP) provides assistance to selected public school districts as they design three-year, strategic plans for K-12 arts education programs. CAPP provides financial and technical assistance to support the strategic planning process through workshops, site visits, leadership training, and resource materials.Examples of arts education improvements through CAPP in school districts and communities include:
- Development of leaders in arts education
- New or revised curriculum and assessments in arts areas to meet the Minnesota Arts Standards
- Professional development opportunities for arts and non-arts teachers
- Added arts staffing
- Opportunities for students to work with professional artists
- New or updated arts facilities
- Policies adopted to support arts education
- Stronger school/community collaborations including partnership with arts and community organizations and higher education institutions
2021 Award Winner: Encouraging the Use of Different and Innovative Teaching Methods.
Awarded By: The MN Association of Charter Schools
MN Excellence in Learning Academy (MELA) sought to address the academic gap in under-served communities through a combination of professional development around trauma-informed care, implementation of best practices language and literacy, and ongoing student centered coaching. They eventually brought on a staff member whose primary focus was around this work and saw literacy progress grow up to 200% higher than developmental expectations.
2021 School Finance Award Recipient
Awarded By: The Minnesota Department of Education
The School Finance Award is awarded annually by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Division of School Finance, to recognize schools for meeting statutory deadlines for submission of audited fiscal financial data and reporting criteria. Out of 570 eligible reporting entities, 455 met the qualifying criteria for the 2021 School Finance Award. There was no application process for the 2021 School Finance Award. Eligibility is based on final Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) financial data.
More information can be found at: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/schfin/fin/guide/education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/schfin/fin/guide/
More information can be found at: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/schfin/fin/guide/education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/schfin/fin/guide/
April 2021: Innovative Charter School of the Month
Awarded by the MN Association of Charter Schools
Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Department of Biological Sciences partners university student scientists with classrooms and trains teachers to deliver hands-on curriculum that drives student-led research, inquiry and engagement.
April 2020: 4 Star Parent Aware (Highest Possible Rating)
Awarded By: MN Department of Human Services
Four-Star RatingThese programs have demonstrated all One-, Two-, and Three-Star practices, AND commits to ongoing quality improvement by using most of these best practices:
- Responds to unique cultural customs and needs of children and families
- Offers activities that encourage family participation and help children transition to kindergarten
- Gives families opportunities to provide feedback about the program
- Shares child development updates with families to set goals together
- Makes accommodations for children with special needs and their families
- Has highly-qualified and trained leadership staff, teachers, and providers
- Creates a program-wide professional development plan
- Encourages healthy living through nutrition and physical activity, always evaluating to set goals for growth
