Latest news with #Pekel
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rochester Public Schools appeals loss of federal grant, pledges not to factor in race for program selection
May 28—ROCHESTER — Rochester Public Schools has submitted a two-page appeal to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the discontinuation of a $1.9 million grant originally meant to increase the number of mental health workers in the school district, particularly those from "underrepresented backgrounds." RPS was originally awarded the grant in 2023. The Department of Education notified RPS earlier this month that it would discontinue the grant because of the priorities of the new administration. In its appeal, RPS said it will no longer make decisions based on race if it is allowed to keep the grant. "We agree to not use any factors related to race, gender or sexual orientation to select or support candidates for the grant program," Superintendent Kent Pekel wrote in the letter. "Our focus is on merit, excellence, and meeting the urgent mental health needs of our students." RPS Communications Director Mamisoa Knutson said the district is unaware when or if it will receive a response to the appeal. The grant was part of a partnership between Rochester Public Schools and Winona State University. When it was first awarded to RPS, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited Rochester to mark the occasion. In an earlier statement about the grant cancellation, Pekel wrote that the program was helping "fill a gap that Rochester Public Schools cannot fill on its own: enabling talented people who are already working in our school system to earn the licenses and degrees that they need to provide students with counseling and other forms of mental health support." In the original notice about the grant's discontinuation, the Department of Education gave a handful of possible reasons for discontinuing the grant without directly saying what the reason was. "The Department has undertaken a review of grants and determined that the grant specified above provides funding for programs that reflect the prior Administration's priorities and policy preferences and conflict with those of the current Administration, in that the programs: violate the letter or purpose of Federal civil rights law; conflict with the Department's policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education; undermine the well-being of the students these programs are intended to help; or constitute an inappropriate use of federal funds." Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the federal government has moved to reverse many existing policies aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion. Although Pekel indicated in the appeal that the district would not take racial factors into account when administering the grant, he also explained that it was partially meant to be a way to support individuals from minority groups. "While the original grant guidelines encouraged consideration of applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, RPS has implemented the program in a balanced manner," Pekel wrote. "Two-thirds of participants are people of color or Indigenous individuals, while one-third are white. This reflects our commitment to both diversity and merit-based selection." The district's response to the letter also criticized the Department of Education's decision to discontinue the grant, saying that the "premature termination of this grant" would waste the funding that has already been invested in the mental health initiative. "This program represents exactly the type of innovative, merit-based approach needed to address the critical mental health needs of our students," Pekel wrote in the letter. "The termination of this grant sends a troubling message about the federal government's commitment to student mental health and efficient use of taxpayer resources."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rochester Public Schools sees highest graduation rate since 2018, including 10% gain among Black students
May 7—ROCHESTER — In 2024, Rochester Public Schools recorded its highest graduation rate since 2018, which included a 10% increase among Black students. The Minnesota Department of Education released statewide 2024 graduation rates on Wednesday, May 7. RPS' graduation rate among Black students reached 84.13%, up from 74.04% in 2023. That gain for Black students in 2024 came after the group experienced a 10% drop the year before , meaning the 2024 rate essentially gained back the ground that had been lost between 2022 and 2023. "That has been a real focus over the course of this year," Superintendent Kent Pekel said, explaining that the district made a point to work with the high schools to make sure their Black student populations stayed on track to graduate. "There was a pretty explicit focus on making sure those kids were not falling through the cracks." The overall graduation rate at Rochester Public Schools for the class of 2024 was 85.9%, representing a 2% increase over the year before. The RPS graduation rate was higher than the statewide rate, which was 84.2%. The RPS graduation rate among white students was 89.7%, a figure that is mostly unchanged from the 2023 class, which was at 90.7% The graduation rate among Asian students was 89.2%, which was an increase from the 82.39% recorded in 2023. Students of "two or more races" had a graduation rate of 86.3%, which was down nearly 4 points from the 90.1% recorded in 2023. Although Hispanic students recorded the lowest graduation rate among racial demographics at 71.0%, that was an increase from the 64.5% recorded in the class of 2023. When asked about the rate among Hispanic students, Pekel explained a reason for it being lower than for other cohorts is because it's a more mobile demographic. "The challenge there is having a program that provides them with educational continuity over time," Pekel said. "That's the work that really lies ahead of us in a lot of ways." Among Rochester's three high schools, Mayo had the highest graduation rate, at 92.6%, followed by Century at 91.7%, and John Marshall at 89.4%. Although Mayo and John Marshall's graduation rates were within a percentage point of the year before, Century recorded a gain of 3.1%. The largest single-school gain was at the Alternative Learning Center, which recorded an increase of 15.7%, for a 2024 graduation rate of 72.3%. Pekel went on to highlight the district's initiative of incorporating something known as "multi-tiered systems of support," which is a strategy for providing additional support for struggling students. "We're identifying the kids who need more support," Pekel said. Among surrounding districts, Byron's graduation rate was the highest at 95.18%, followed by Plainview-Elgin-Millville at 95.15%, Kasson-Mantorville at 93.59%, Stewartville at 92.62%, Pine Island at 89.36%, Chatfield at 89.33% and Dover-Eyota at 87.5%.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In response to national challenges, Rochester Public Schools superintendent defends district's approach
Mar. 6—ROCHESTER — Amid a complex political environment, Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel has reiterated what he views as the right approach to move forward. During a presentation on Tuesday, March 4 about his overall goals for the district and the work his administration has done so far, Pekel touched on the challenges of leading the district during a time when the federal administration is threatening to make changes. "We have not been ideologically driven on either side of the equation," Pekel said. "We have been about the academic success of kids, but kids can't succeed academically in environments that are hostile to them." In recent years, the district has become a local lightning rod for controversy about topics, like how to accommodate transgender students and more broad initiatives surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the federal government has indicated it plans to rout out the focus on issues it views as problematic. In February, the U.S. Department of Education issued a "dear colleague" letter to schools, instructing them to move away from taking race into consideration with their programs and initiatives. "Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon 'systemic and structural racism' and advanced discriminatory policies and practices," the letter reads. "Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them — particularly during the last four years — under the banner of "diversity, equity, and inclusion' ('DEI'), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline." Three weeks later, on March 1, the department released a second document clarifying some of its stances in a Frequently Asked Questions document pertaining to its original letter. In both the original letter and the follow-up document, the department referred to a U.S. Supreme Court decision from 2023 about the use of race in college admissions: Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. "While the facts of the case before the Supreme Court were specifically about racial preferences in university admissions, the Court applied broad reasoning to its decision, which has broad implications for race-based policies in education," the department said in its Frequently Asked Questions document. One of the questions in the document was whether DEI programs are unlawful under the Supreme Court decision. According to the department's directive, the actual teaching of various topics is not prohibited in and of itself as long as it is done in a way that isn't exclusionary, the document said. "Schools with programs focused on interests in particular cultures, heritages, and areas of the world would not in and of themselves violate Title VI, assuming they are open to all students regardless of race," the document says. "Nor would educational, cultural, or historical observances — such as Black History Month, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or similar events — that celebrate or recognize historical events and contributions, and promote awareness, so long as they do not engage in racial exclusion or discrimination." The Department of Education's initial letter, which was released Feb. 14, said schools that don't comply could lose access to federal funding. In the second document, the department said violations could lead to "enforcement through administrative proceedings or referring the case to the Department of Justice." Newly appointed Education Sec. Linda McMahon issued a statement on Monday, March 3, under the heading "Our Department's Final Mission." In the statement, McMahon emphasized the department would have three "convictions:" * "Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education." * "Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning in math, reading, science, and history — not divisive DEI programs and gender ideology." * "Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs." "My vision is aligned with the President's," McMahon wrote, "to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children." McMahon stated three times in her statement the intent to transfer education back to the states. K-12 education is already primarily administrated locally, including when it comes to curriculum. Although he didn't refer to McMahon or any other specific allegations, Pekel rejected the notion that the district has been working contrary to parents. "We have never undermined the ability of parents and guardians and other caregivers to be involved in their kids' education," he said. Despite the face-value implications of the directives of the U.S. Department of Education, it has yet to prompt Rochester Public Schools to make any changes to the way the schools operate. During an interview following the release of the original document, Pekel said neither executive orders nor "Dear Colleague" letters have the force of law. He went on to explain the Minnesota Human Rights Act remains the "controlling authority" for the issue. "We're not freelancing," Pekel said at the time. "We're following the law." The Department of Education has taken multiple opportunities to prompt people to report violations of its directives, including in both the "Dear Colleague" letter and the follow-up FAQ sheet. It also opened a portal on its website where it says "students, parents, teachers, and the broader community" can "report illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning." Rochester Public Schools became the focus of a complaint in 2024 before the new administration started. The organization Parents Defending Education filed a complaint against Rochester Public Schools, claiming the district violated both the Civil Rights Act, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by only offering some resource opportunities to teachers of color. Part of that complaint referred to the district's "grow your own program," which provides a path for employees of color to become teachers. The underlying reason for the district's Grow Your Own initiative is to make its teaching staff be more reflective of the student population. In December 2024, the district released a report, showing that 5.6% of the district's teaching staff are teachers of color. By comparison, more than 40% of the district's student body are students of color. Pekel didn't mention the complaint filed against the district during his presentation on Tuesday, but he did reiterate his stance that having a diverse teaching staff is important for the success of students. "We know that the research is conclusive that if a Black student has a Black teacher, the academic benefits are powerful and sustained," he said. "That's not questionable anymore." Parents Defending Education also lists RPS on its "IndoctriNation Map." Despite the federal government's focus on routing out programs it sees as problematic, the complaint filed against the district has not yet prompted any investigation into Rochester Public Schools. Nor has the federal administration given the district any specific requirements about things it needs to change to come in line with its directives. "At this time, we have not received any substantive guidance or direction from either the U.S. Department of Education or MDE," RPS Communications Director Mamisoa Knutson said. During his presentation, Pekel also referred back to an initial statement he made following the inauguration about how Rochester Public Schools was "staying the course." He clarified that the statement was not intended to be a way to engage in the "battles" taking place in the national conversation. Instead, he said the comment was meant to signify that he's confident the district is taking a "common-sense, pragmatic approach that's good for all of our kids." "That's why I'm confident that despite the huge issues that are happening around us, we can keep going in Rochester," Pekel said, "Because we've defined this as being about the academic success of all of our kids. And you don't get to academic success unless you are addressing the environment in which kids are learning."
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rochester Public Schools plans to fund select students after graduation following confusion about P-TECH
Feb. 21—ROCHESTER — Rochester Public Schools announced on Thursday that it will set aside an additional $130,000 to help the current students in its P-TECH program finish their coursework following high school graduation. The decision came following confusion about how long the program was supposed to last. When P-TECH first launched in 2021, families were told it would last for six years. However, now that students who launched the program as freshmen are getting ready to graduate, they had been told otherwise. Following a review of the program and what was explained at its launch, the district will pay for students currently enrolled in the program to finish their work. Students who join the program later, however, will not have access to the same option. In other words, that means the school district will continue to pay for the education of a select group of students after they are no longer in the K-12 system. "This is, to me, a really big deal," RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel told the Post Bulletin. "I think it would have been breaking faith with those kids because they were told it (would be paid for)." P-TECH is a program that allows students to pursue either an information technology track or a nursing track while still in high school. It's a partnership with Rochester Community and Technical College, IBM and the Mayo Clinic. Rochester Public Schools first announced the creation of the program in 2020, before Pekel joined the district. The first cohort of students then began their work in P-TECH in the fall of 2021. Pekel said that ever since he came to the district, he believed the program was an "early college model," in which students accomplish their programs in IT or nursing by the time they're ready to graduate high school. The breakdown in communication seems to have happened since the district initially began using some generic P-TECH literature and marketing that existed in other schools outside Minnesota, which in some cases allows students to continue in the P-TECH model for a fifth and sixth year. Even though RPS has budgeted $130,000 for the current cohort to finish their work in the program, it's possible that the district could redeem some of that cost. For example, Pekel's memo explains that if any of the students qualify for financial aid, that would offset the cost of helping those students get across the finish line. "I deeply regret the confusion that has arisen regarding this issue," Pekel wrote in a memo on the issue. "And since I learned about this concern at the start of the month, I have worked with our team to find a path forward that supports P-TECH students while also recognizing that RPS has very limited funding and authority to support their study at RCTC after they have graduated from our school district."
