• Blog Post by: Steve Brandt
• May 14, 2012 - 7:07 PM

Candidates seeking four Minneapolis school board seats to be filled this year will be pressed to address achievement gap-closing strategies at a forum Wednesday.

The forum is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Urban Reasearch and Outreach-Engagement Center, 2001 Plymouth Av. N.  It is co-sponsored by the African American Leadership Forum and the Education Equity Organizing Cooperative.

Candidates will be asked to address gap-closing strategies identified in the 2011 AALF report  "A Crisis in Our Community."  The report identifies gaps in preparation, expectations, time, teaching and leadership that it posits contribute to the gap between white and black student test scores. It also lists strategies to addressing each gap.

The open seats include one to be filled by all voters in the city, and three district seats in the city's west half.  This election will complete the school board's transition to three members elected citywide and six elected from districts.