“We are one step closer to a system of accountability that puts students first.”
- Commissioner Brenda Cassellius

The Minnesota Department of Education's waiver request was approved by the U.S. Department of Education and announced on February 9, 2012. The waiver was developed using intensive outreach and input from experts, policymakers, parents, educators and community members to ensure the new system better addresses the specific needs of Minnesota students. View a copy of the submitted request on the U.S. DOE website.

The new accountability system is based on multiple measures of reliable data to identify schools for recognition, accountability and support. In addition it will provide a clearer focus on schools most in need of intensive intervention strategies and support, and will move the state forward in the goals of closing achievement gaps and improving educational outcomes for all students.

NEW! Multiple Measurements Rating (MMR) Data will be available to districts on May 14, 2012 and will be released to the public through the MDE website on May 22, 2012. This data will include the MMR for every school, and the new school accountability designations of Reward, Focus and Priority Schools. The ratings and designations will be based on assessment data from 2011 and 2010.

Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and department staff embarked on a statewide tour to present information about Minnesota’s waiver request. Public meetings took place in Rochester and St. Cloud in December 2011, Mankato and Marshall in January and Osseo, Duluth and Virginia in March.

Submit your questions about Minnesota's waiver to: mde.nclbwaiver@state.mn.us 

Document Download:

• New Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Targets 
  
• NCLB Waiver FAQs 
  Frequently Asked Questions about the NCLB Waiver. (updated March 19, 2012)
• Growth Scores Explained 
  
• Minnesota's New Accountability System 
  PowerPoint Presentation (updated March 7, 2012)
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Waiver Glossary 
  Updated March 1
• Minnesota's Waiver - Explained 
  
• ESEA Flexibility Request Approval Letter 
  
• Minnesota's ESEA Flexibility Request Summary 
  

Meeting Documents

Document Download:

• Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) Impact Data 
  
• Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) Option A 
  
• Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) - Option B 
  
• November 4: Meeting Summary 
  
• November 4: Subject Areas Decision Form 
  
• November 4: Accountability At-A-Glance 
  
• November 4: Ratings and Measures Defined 
  
• October 28: Meeting Summary 
  
• October 28: Meeting Agenda 
  
• October 28: System of Continuous Improvement 
  
• October 28: Multiple Measures Chart 
  
• October 28: Questions and Definitions 
  
• October 28: Group Table Notes 
  
• October 21: Group Table Notes 
  
• October 21: Meeting Summary 
  
• October 21: Meeting Agenda 
  
• October 21: Baseline for Priority, Focus and Reward Schools 
  
• October 21: ESEA Note Sheets 
  
• October 21: Minnesota Values Chart 
  
• October 21: Questions and Definitions 
  
• October 21: What's Waived, What's Not? 
  
• October 14 Meeting Agenda 
  
• October 14 Meeting Summary 
  
• Issues Identified and Terms Defined by Waiver Workgroup 
  
• Questions for the Waiver Working Group 
  
• Charge to the Waiver Workgroup 
  
• Commissioner Cassellius Testimony on the No Child Left Behind Waiver 
  November 2 testimony before the House K-12 Finance Hearing Committee
• Waiver Request Letter to Secretary Arne Duncan 
  August 16, 2011 letter to the U.S. Department of Education from Commissioner Cassellius requesting an NCLB waiver
• Meeting Schedule for the NCBL Waiver Workgroup 
  
• Letter from Commissioner Cassellius to Parents 
  Commissioner Cassellius provided an optional letter to parents that school districts could send with their mandated AYP letters. This letter is intended to provide information about AYP, Minnesota's waiver request and what an AYP designation may mean for the school their son or daughter attends.
• Frequently Asked Questions: NCLB Waiver 
  Presentation created by the School Improvement Division about the 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress results
• What Just Happened and What's Next? 
  Presentation created by the School Improvement Division about the 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress results