Every year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation publishes the KIDS COUNT® Data Book. Given all the challenges of COVID, it was inspiring to read that in the 2021 book Minnesota ranked third for child well-being. Yet, as we see time and again, when you dig a little deeper and disaggregate the data, it’s not all kids in Minnesota […]

Learning loss and digital divides – two among many concerns that were raised up during 18 months of interrupted schooling. Now we are reading about accelerated learning, intensive summer schools, increased tutoring, and calls to “just let our children have a Summer”.  Each child, family and school experienced the pandemic differently. As our students emerge […]

Wow!  It was quite a meeting when the Sauers told me they had sold their company and a portion of the proceeds from the sale would come to the foundation.  That alone was exciting news!  Then they told me that the assets of the foundation would increase from $28 million to $100 million, and that […]

In August, I wrote about the Miss Kendra Program that works with all students in schools to identify and calm worries to free their brains for learning.  This tier 1 approach to trauma reduces major behavior issues in schools by 70% or more after three years of implementation.  Suspensions for children and youth decreases as […]

It has been a difficult year in so many ways, but it became the backdrop for many important conversations about what is important in our lives.  In the middle of a Global Pandemic and renewed emphasis on the racial injustice inherent in our society, we are clear about what we are against.  But the real […]