The University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is focused on improving the lives of children, families, and communities by forging research-driven solutions to complex problems. These solutions come from our brightest minds and from decades of real-world experience across eight departments and 25 research centers and institutes. Jean Echternacht, Ed.D., research associated at the Institute on Community Integration, brings us this post.
Much of my work has been focused on figuring out how best to help students transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The past 20+ years of that focus has been directed to support American Indian students. American Indian youth have the lowest high school graduation rate of any minority; Minnesota ranks 49thout of 50 states in American Indian graduation.