Academics

Bloomington Public Schools is highly regarded for inspiring all learners to achieve their greatest potential with curricula and academic programs that are standards-based, differentiated and culturally-diverse.  Our highly qualified staff use teaching techniques defined by best practice and research-proven strategies, and student assessments are designed from state, national and local standards. 

AVID programs are designed to help close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success. 

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and SPARCSS (Success Pathways Achieved through Readiness, Community, Strategies, and Skills) are K-12 school-wide programs providing a framework for all teachers to use research-based best practices in their daily lessons. AVID schools promote a “college-going environment” by fostering a school-wide culture of post-secondary enrollment and success.

AVID is offered at Valley View Middle School and Kennedy High School.

SPARCCS is offered as a support for all students in Bloomington schools with an added elective component at Olson Middle School.

The elementary programs focus on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading (WICOR) strategies, and building leadership and foundational skills.

At the secondary level, AVID and SPARCSS are also offered as an elective class for students who need extra support along a college pathway. Students who might benefit from the elective class are typically in the academic middle, the first in their family to attend college, come from a demographic that is underrepresented at 4-year colleges/universities, or have a life-circumstance that may be preventing them from receiving the support they need to acquire the skills and strategies to be successful in middle school, high school, and college/career.

Learn more about AVID, access to strategies, student success stories and read archived newsletters. 

AVID Website

Contact

Kelly Killorn
952-681-5841
kkillorn@isd271.org

One goal of the curriculum review process is to provide parents/guardians, students and other interested members of the community an opportunity to review and give feedback on potential materials. Curriculum review was paused due to the READ Act legislation and implementation. 

The curriculum and instructional English Language Arts K-12 materials will be available for viewing and feedback at the Bloomington Public Schools Educational Service Center, Room 610, during the following times:

  • January 28, 2025, 1-7 p.m.
  • January 29, 2025 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Additional materials review information.

Helping Students Become Language Proficient

Our English Language (EL) Program helps prepare EL students to meet grade-level standards or higher. Our goal is to meet the linguistic, language academic and cultural needs of the students. We advocate for the use of students' home language and development of early literacy skills at home and in the classroom because those literacy skills will transfer to English. 

More than 93 languages, other than English, are spoken by students and families in our district. The English Learners (EL) program serves nearly 1,300 students per year.

EL Instruction at Bloomington Public Schools  

The Bloomington EL curriculum uses language standards that are aligned to the Minnesota State Standards. EL teachers in Bloomington teach students the academic language, vocabulary and background information that are necessary for students to acquire English and learn grade-level content. 

The Bloomington EL Program collaborative model:

  • EL and classroom teacher coordinate instruction 
  • Both the language and content needs of the English Learner are being met
  • Students receive explicit instruction in language acquisition 
  • Language supports are embedded throughout the curriculum

Who is eligible?

  • All students new to the district fill out a Home Language Survey upon enrollment. 
  • Students who have a language other than English on their Minnesota Home Language Survey will be tested for the EL Program using the WIDA Model test for Kindergarten and the WIDA Screener for grades K-12. ACCESS Scores from the previous year will be used to identify students moving from other districts in Minnesota. Pre-kindergarten students will be screened using the Pre-LAS assessment.
  • Parents will be notified via mail if a student is eligible for EL Services
  • Parents or guardians may remove their child from the EL Program at any time by signing a waiver available through the EL teacher. However, students will still be required to take the state EL assessment.
  • EL Teachers may consider additional criteria for EL identification such as teacher observations and judgment, parent recommendations and other developmentally appropriate assessment instruments.

How do students exit the EL program?

In order for a student to exit the EL Program, EL students must meet the following guidelines:

  • ACCESS Composite Score of 4.5; and
  • a score of 3.5 in three of the four domains: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Contact

Beth Stenglein
EL Supervisor
952-681-6647
bstenglein@isd271.org

This information is for home educators residing within Bloomington. Homeschools must comply with state requirements in accordance with the Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Law.

The Initial Registration Form (or the Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction if you have previously submitted the Initial Registration Form) must be submitted to Bloomington Public Schools by Oct. 1 of each year or at any time during the year when the educational status of a school-age child changes. The law requires each public school district to annually report to the state the compliance status of all school-age children living within its boundaries. 

Homeschool Forms and Information

Please visit Minnesota Department of Education for more information.

Homeschool Contacts

Elizabeth Holman 
952-681-6489
eholman@isd271.org

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO on a term by term basis.

By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the date a student registers for courses for the following school year (whichever is earlier), schools must provide PSEO information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families. To assist the district in planning, a student must inform the district by May 30 of each year of their intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed, textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies, or for tuition costs if they do not notify the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement.

Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions.

Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.

School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.

Each year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades.

All courses taken through the PSEO program must meet graduation requirements. Districts must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Districts have the authority to decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between the district and the student regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the student may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits will be final.

Postsecondary institutions are required to allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.

Tenth-grade students may initially enroll in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) PSEO course if they receive a reading proficiency score of “meets” or “exceeds” on the 8th grade MCA. If 10th graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional postsecondary courses. If the student did not take the MCA in 8th-grade, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.

For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

Additional information can be found on the high school registration pages.

Kennedy Counseling Jefferson Registration

The Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) is new state legislation with a goal for every Minnesota student reading at or above grade level each year. The focus begins in early childhood programs and continues through each student’s K-12 education. 

What Families Should Know

Students in grades K-5 will take a reading screener within the first and last six weeks of school, including multilingual and special education learners. 

Teachers will receive specialized READ Act training to be rolled out in phases over the next two years. Professional development (PD) training begins in August 2024, and will include six no student contact days for early learning and elementary students during the 2024-25 school year. The district’s calendar page has the latest PD updates.

The structured literacy framework will be used to guide instruction and to support students’ learning and progress. Evidence-based best practices for increasing reading skills will be implemented as required by the READ Act. The district is currently reviewing a list of curricular resource options provided by Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). 

Resources:

Curriculum Contacts

Andy Kubas
Executive Director of Learning & Teaching
952-681-6515
akubas@isd271.org

Beth Flottmeier
Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction
952-681-6499
bflottmeier@isd271.org

Ashley Modrow
Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction
amodrow@isd271.org
952-681-6498