Bellwether is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. We’re using this moment to look back on some of the work we’re most proud of — work that we plan on scaling as new trends and challenges emerge.
Over the last 15 years, our team of experts has partnered with hundreds of organizations who work tirelessly to improve the lives of young people at all ages, from early childhood to postsecondary to career pathways and beyond. Getting to witness the impact they have on students across the country is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work, so we wanted to share those accomplishments more widely. We asked three of our enduring partners how they’ve expanded their organization’s impact over the course of our work together and what they’re especially proud of today.
Today, we’re featuring Great MN Schools (GMS), which works to ensure that every child in Minneapolis attends a high-quality school. Founded in 2015, the nonprofit supports more than 9,000 Minneapolis students by helping 20 schools to build strong educational systems — from operations to curriculum to culture — that prepare K-12 students to thrive in their lives, career, and community.
Bellwether has worked with GMS since 2019 to help its school teams develop comprehensive, multiyear improvement plans to improve student outcomes. We recently spoke with CEO Jennifer Stern about how the organization has supported student success across Minneapolis in partnership with our team; here’s what she said:
“Over the past several years, we have transformed how we work with schools — and how we pursue our mission to expand access to high-quality seats in Minneapolis. Our partnership with Bellwether has been an important part of this journey, bringing consistency and rigor to our improvement efforts through a customized, data-driven review and planning process that meets each school where it is and delivers consistent, measurable results for students.
As we engaged in school quality reviews, one need rose to the top: stronger literacy instruction. That insight led us to conduct a citywide Literacy Needs Assessment and, ultimately, launch the Minnesota Literacy Coalition, which brings local leaders together to work towards improved equity and excellence in literacy outcomes.
We also developed a School Performance Rating together, which became a core feature of the Minneapolis School Finder. This vital tool empowers families to make informed decisions about where to send their child to school, and it’s become fundamental to our city.
We recently completed an independent evaluation of our school improvement strategy, and the results are clear: Our schools are not just improving — they’re building sustainable cultures of excellence. Our students are bouncing back from COVID-19 pandemic learning loss faster than their peers, and families are more empowered than ever. We’re proud of this momentum, and proud to be creating a legacy of progress and lasting impact — made possible through the strength of our schools, our community, and trusted partnerships like Bellwether’s.”
To learn more about our work, get in touch at contactus@bellwether.org.
