Minnesota

"The two connected through Idealistic Mentors,' a pilot program of College Possible, which Daynom began as a junior. College Possible, a St. Paul-based nonprofit that also operates in Milwaukee and Omaha, tries to make college a reality for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support,' its website states. The organization rolled out the mentorship program to 100 seniors at Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids and Highland Park high schools last year."

"Sauk Rapids-Rice has boosted its efforts by working more closely with city and county organizations as well as programs geared toward assisting homeless families. We've really made an effort to increase our awareness of that population,' Bittman said."

"Focusing on outcomes is a logical way to assess how students are doing. From standardized testing, we know that Minnesota has one of the largest achievement gaps for students of color in the nation."

"Nathan's study shows charters have long catered to low-income, minority students. Half of charter school enrollment statewide is poor students of color; in the Twin Cities it is closer to two-thirds.Yet, in St. Paul, that trend appears to be changing."

"Most, but not all, of those other schools don't receive federal funding to educate higher concentrations of low-income children and thus aren't eligible for extra help. But many of them, mainly in suburban and rural Minnesota, have seen huge increases of students living in poverty."

"Under Minnesota's new accountability system, only 42 schools have been identified as 'Priority,' or needing special attention. But a Pioneer Press analysis of the data shows at least 71 other schools had similarly low scores but won't get that label -- or help from the state to improve."