Award: Regional Centers of Excellence Statewide System of Support

December 2, 2015

Innovations in American Government Awards

  • AWARD WON: 2015 Top 25
  • AWARDEE: Regional Centers of Excellence Statewide System of Support
  • DESIGNEE: State of Minnesota
  • JURISDICTION: Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Education’s Regional Centers of Excellence and Statewide System of Support (SSOS) is an innovative and effective model for the delivery of turnaround support for Minnesota’s lowest performing schools. This program is used to implement Minnesota’s policies within its approved federal waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act. Relationships are nurtured and leadership is developed by using a coaching approach to support schools. Previous accountability systems for schools utilized a directive and compliance-oriented approach. The new SSOS is built on the principle that we must build relationships with schools in order to facilitate change. Coaching builds the capacity of school personnel to support ongoing change and empowers schools to leverage change themselves. The program's coaching approach is based on the concepts of equality, choice, voice, reflection, dialogue, and praxis.