Want to Enroll Your Child in a Better School? Start Now
By Rashad Turner, Minnesota Parent Union President and Executive Director
Don’t let your zip code dictate where your child goes to school. District lines should not keep you from seeking the best education possible. As a parent, you have a choice when it comes to your child’s school, and it is your responsibility to ensure they are receiving a quality education.
More than 86,000 Minnesota students open-enrolled in 2020-2021. That’s thousands of parents taking a stand and saying their children deserve better. And while you may think open enrollment or enrolling in a private or charter school is unobtainable, I’m here to tell you it’s not. In fact, in just a few short years, Minnesota Parent Union has helped hundreds of children across Minnesota enroll in better schools. Sometimes, we find schools within a family's current district. Other times, we help parents get their children enrolled in schools outside their district.
But time is running out.
Enroll Now: 2023-24 School Year
If you want something better for your child in the coming school year, you need to act now.
With some exceptions, non-resident students must open-enroll before January 15 to attend a school the following fall.
Enrollment at charter or private schools is limited, and if you wait, you might be out of luck.
Also, due to the pandemic, there are even fewer schools that can offer Black, Brown, Indigenous and children from low-income households a quality education, limiting your options even more. New data from Great MN Schools shows that a number of schools such as Aurora Charter School, Bethune Arts Magnet, Ella Baker Magnet, Friendship Academy, Hiawatha Academy Northrop, Hmong International, Jenny Lind Community, KIPP North Star, MTS Elementary, Sojourner Truth Academy, Augsburg Fairview Academy and MTS Secondary all saw their overall performance drop between 2019 and 2022.
We know switching schools is a daunting task. Parents are busy and stressed, and during this time of year, it’s even harder to find a spare minute. But consider the consequences of keeping your child in a school that doesn’t know how to teach them to read or how to do grade-level math. Your child will forever be behind, struggling to maintain employment and likely falling into criminal activity to make ends meet.
It is with this in mind that we ask parents to become advocates for their children.
How do I know if my child should enroll in a new school?
To understand whether you should make a switch, take a look at your child’s school and ask yourself the following questions:
Is the teaching staff diverse?
Studies show students who have a BIPOC educator are better at completing tasks and are more engaged in school, score higher on tests and attend school more often.
Is your child at grade level?
Great MN Schools has guides to help families understand the state learning standards in grades K-4 and what their child should know by each grade. Learning Heroes also has great content and resources available to parents.
Does your child’s teacher know their individual needs?
A teacher won’t be able to help your child unless they know and understand their unique struggles, strengths and challenges. If your teacher hasn’t taken the time to understand your child, it’s time to find a school and educators who will.
How do I pick a new school for my child?
Finding a new school requires some research. One resource Minnesota Parent Union highly recommends is the Minneapolis School Finder. It allows you to see all the area schools, their current demographics, enrollment numbers and an explanation of how to enroll in those individual schools.
Additionally, Minneapolis School Finder also created a guide for parents on how to pick a school with advice such as reviewing school websites, talking to friends and touring area schools to see what feels best to your family.
Another asset you should utilize is the Minnesota Report Card. There, you can review student body education data for the schools you’re interested in.
Lastly, we often hear transportation as being an obstacle holding parents back from making a switch. However, some school districts will provide transportation to children who live outside the district, so do some research and call around. There are also options for transportation reimbursement if a family's income is at or below the federal poverty level.
How do I enroll my child in a new school?
School enrollment processes vary from district to district and can change depending on what type of school you’re trying to enroll in.
At Minnesota Parent Union, we provide one-on-one advocacy and enrollment support. We are here to fundamentally change outcomes for children of color and children from low-income households. We want parents to know they have a choice! There are many families who are unfamiliar with how Minnesota’s school system works because they’re from a different culture. We are the bridge between the school system and parents.
Time to Step Up
If you’re not satisfied with the education your child is receiving, it’s your job as a parent to do something about it. No one cares more about your child than you.
It’s time to step up and take an active role in your children’s education.