In partnership with 14 local organizations—including health clinics, the Boys & Girls Club, and community arts centers—the initiative addresses key barriers to learning such as transportation, housing instability, and food insecurity. “This is about meeting students where they are,” Putnam explains. “We’re not waiting for kids to come to us with needs—we’re proactively providing wraparound services so they can thrive academically and personally.” The model, she adds, is guided by student and family voices, and it ensures that principals and teachers are part of the planning process, creating schools that are responsive and relevant to their communities. LANGUAGE IMMERSION AS A BRIDGE TO BELONGING In a district where over 80 languages are spoken, language learning is about more than curriculum— it’s about connection. St. Cloud Area School District offers one of the oldest Chinese immersion programs in the country, alongside thriving Spanish immersion offerings.These programs not only provide cognitive and academic benefits but also reinforce the district’s core value of belonging. The district also piloted a Somali immersion program, though resource constraints made full implementation challenging. Still, Somali remains a core foreign language offering, allowing students to maintain their linguistic heritage while strengthening academic performance. Explore Together! GREAT RIVER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TM Serving 90,000+ children age birth to ten Reaching 80+ elementary schools Field trips aligned with ECIPs & K–3 academic standards Connecting children, families, & educators through eight hands-on exhibits, workshops & programming! 110 8th Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301 guestservices@greatrivercm.org greatrivercm.org 400 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09
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