Language requirement doesn't make the cut for Minneapolis schools

When it came time to retool the graduation requirements for students attending Minneapolis public schools, board members instructed administrators to craft standards that closely adhere to the district motto: Urban Education. Global Citizens.

So some school board members were surprised that the new policy will not require Minneapolis students to take world language classes or ethnic studies before they graduate.

"Global citizens know more than one language," Board Member Kim Ellison said. "It was very disappointing."

The district's decision comes as school officials around the country are rethinking language requirements. Some districts in other states are adding many years of language instruction to ensure they graduate students who are bilingual, while other districts have cut back due to tightening budgets. School officials are wrestling with the issue as many students face increasing pressure from colleges to have foreign language skills.

Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson's staff said she does not want to add more hurdles for students who already are struggling to graduate. The district graduation hovers around 54 percent, more than 25 percentage points below the statewide average.

District officials reject criticism that they are diminishing the importance of language classes or cultural learning.

"Neither of those courses was devalued by anyone," said Mike Lynch, the district's executive director of Teaching and Learning.

District staff will present the new graduation requirements at Tuesday's board meeting. Current school board members will discuss the proposed new standards, but the vote won't come until January, when the new board will be seated.

Standards vs. flexibility

For the past several years, Minneapolis school officials have discussed changing graduation requirements to help boost its graduation rates and better align itself with the state's requirements.

District staff and the board have scrutinized all course requirements, from physical education to science. Several board members have lobbied hard to require world languages and ethnic studies before students can get a diploma.

The district's goal to add flexibility and choice put it at odds with board members who wanted to lock up more credits for language. Students are now required to take a minimum of 21.5 credits to graduate, with 17 of those credits in specific areas, such as math, science and social studies. With the new recommendations, students would only be required to take 15.5 specific credits, giving them more flexibility for language and other options.

Currently, 65 percent of high school students enrolled in the district are taking a world language. The can choose from nearly a dozen, including Arabic, Chinese, Dakota, Hmong and Spanish.

Global education

Board Member Alberto Monserrate, who has advocated for bilingualism for all students in the district, said business leaders are looking for people who are culturally and language ready.

"We are not even close to providing that," said Monserrate, adding not making the language courses a requirement is a "missed opportunity" by the district.

School officials say no other school district in the state requires world languages.

The Hopkins School District considered adding a world language requirement in 2011.

"We really want to strongly encourage it, but we also don't want it to become a barrier to graduation," said Diane Schimelpfenig, Hopkins' director of teaching and learning.

But Hopkins is now including Spanish instruction for every grade level from kindergarten through second grade. The district will add Spanish instruction to every grade level each year up to sixth grade. Schimelpfenig said her hope is students will continue to learn other languages in high school.

Another aspect of a global education is learning about other cultures. Minneapolis school officials discussed requiring every high school student to take a class on ethnic studies as a mandatory elective. Some of the courses to choose from would include African-American, Latino and East African studies.

But the district says it has never offered the courses before. To make the classes mandatory from one year to the next without testing and refining the class could be problematic. Instead, the district will offer African-American ethnic studies next year as an elective.

Required for admission

Some board members say making the world language a requirement would also help more students get into a four-year college or university. Many universities, including the University of Minnesota, require at least two years of a single language in high school.

"This language requirement is consistent with the university's mission to ensure our students are prepared to thrive in a global society," said the U's director of admissions, Rachelle Hernandez.

However, district officials said they can't get too fixated on the wishes of colleges and universities since well under 30 percent of Minneapolis students enroll in four-year school after graduation.

Griffin said the district relies on parents, students and guidance counselors to do their research in selecting the right classes to prepare the student for college or the workforce.

The new board will vote on the district's recommendations in January. District officials are also looking to cut physical education to one semester, down from two. They also want to decrease health requirements from one year to one semester, and reduce social studies from four years to three and a half.

"We wanted to ensure that students could pursue what they wanted while we ensure excellence and quality," Lynch said.

Alejandra Matos • 612-673-4028