About Us

MISSION

MFAS is a membership organization whose mission is to be the voice for and advance the quality of alternative education

 

VALUES

Support for members

  • Serves as a place for members to network, share information, and assist each other in being the best alternative education option possible

Proven, effective programming

  • Alternative education options provide quality programming that changes at-risk student's lives and should receive recognition and acknowledgement for the growth that occurs in students' life choices, self-confidence, and readiness for employment, as well as academic achievement

United voice and clearing house

  • Advocating for alternative education options requires a united voice armed with accurate statistics and qualitative data that speaks convincingly to legislators and the public

Piloting innovations and connecting with cultures

  • Alternative education options provide opportunities to learn form cultural traditions and incorporate "non-traditional," effective teaching methods and settings that schools can use to their advantage

 

VISION

The Metropolitan Federation of Alternative Schools (MFAS) will take the lead in gathering data through the Accountability Project that will prove the effectiveness of alternative learning options for at-risk students. Through a uniquely defined set of criteria, MFAS will be able to prove the effectiveness, show the differences alternative learning options make in students' lives, and highlight promising practices to legislators, Minneapolis and St. Paul Schools, and the Minnesota Department of Education, among others. Based on this data MFAS will assist member schools in ensuring the highest quality academic experience for their students. MFAS will meet their members' needs by convening forums for idea exchange, representing members' interests with the local school systems, and offering professional development opportunities.

MFAS will build a case for alternative education using quality standards and metrics from member schools and grow its membership organically by attracting others in the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The organization will attract a range of organizations/schools that provide alternative education options for the at-risk students in the Greater Minneapolis and St. Paul urban area who want to be associated with and benefit from sharing information and testing results, and having a united, strong voice.

 

GOALS

  • Create measures of student and program success
  • Promote effective models of alternative education
  • Increase understanding of alternative education
  • Build on membership and clarify needs
  • Build and strengthen partnerships