FOCUS on Anoka-Hennepin - December

December 3, 2025

The process to determine a solution to address challenges for the 2026-27 Anoka-Hennepin School District budget continues, with the School Board scheduled to discuss and take action at the regularly scheduled School Board meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.

The big picture: The Anoka-Hennepin School Board took action beginning in February 2024 to reduce and realign the budget for the current school year, reducing over 200 administrative and central office positions in a two-phased, $14.14 million reduction process. The current process, Phase 3, will provide solutions to maintain financial stability for the 2026-27 school year. Details include:

Phase 1: $5.1 million reduction in district and central office/services.

• Elimination of 40 positions and operations reductions of $1.1 million in areas such as transportation and district technology.
  
  

Phase 2: $9.04 million reduction in district and central office/services.

• Reduction of over 200 district office and central services positions and realignment of District leadership structure.
• One-time use of district fund balance and reduction of $5 million in strategic investments to reach the budget reduction and reallocation goal.
• No requirement to pursue a referendum election.
  
  

Phase 3: Projected $8 million in reductions or realignments under consideration.

💻 Visit ahschools.us/budget to view full details.

Feedback was gathered through Nov. 17 for School Board members to review additional ideas and thoughts from the community. Information provided will inform decisions.

Anoka-Hennepin superintendent Cory McIntyre has been appointed to serve on Minnesota’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education, a new 16-member advisory board tasked with developing and presenting an action plan for transforming special education in Minnesota.

Why it matters: The Minnesota legislature mandated that $250 million be removed from the state budget starting in 2027 in relation to support of special education services.

The task: The Blue Ribbon Commission is tasked with developing a plan that can gain support to address the $250 reduction goal, or the legislature has stated they will take action to make the reductions independently. For each element of the action plan, the commission must analyze the effect on students eligible for special education; special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and other unlicensed special education staff; and other special education constituencies as the commission deems appropriate.

Special education leader: Supt. McIntyre has significant work experience serving in leadership roles in special education administration in Anoka-Hennepin Schools along with work in ISD 622, Hudson, Wisconsin, and Rochester Public Schools. St. Paul’s Dr. Stacie Stanley and Intermediate District 287’s Marcy Doud are the other superintendents serving on the panel.

Timeline: The commission has an Oct. 1, 2026 timeline for completion of their work.

Follow along: Meeting recaps and additional information is posted on the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Trimester one report cards will be available soon. Watch for communication from your student's school, which will notify families when the report cards are available for families to view. Parents, guardians and any person with educational rights to a student will be able to access the student’s report card online.

Families may login to their parent account or download the ParentVUE mobile app to access student report cards. Report cards are only available online and are not sent through postal mail or student’s backpacks. Families will be able to access report cards by logging into your parent account on the district website or viewing it on the ParentVUE mobile app.

For assistance with your login information, contact the Anoka-Hennepin Schools HELP Desk at 506help@ahschools.us or 763-506-HELP (4357).

How to view report cards from an internet browser:

• Login to your parent account at ahschools.us/login.
• Select “Parent or Guardian login.”
• Enter your ParentVUE username and password.
• Select a student from the drop-down menu.
• Select ‘Documents.’
• Select and view the applicable report card from the ‘Documents’ window.

• The report card will open in a new tab where the capabilities to download or print will be available.

  
  

View from the ParentVUE app:

• Go to the AppStore or Google Play and search for the ParentVUE app.

• Open ParentVUE app, enter your zip code when prompted, and select “Anoka-Hennepin School District” from the menu options.

• Enter your username and password to login.

• Select a student from the student list.

• Select ‘Documents.’

• Select and view the applicable report card.

• Click the share button to save or share the PDF.
  
  

If you need assistance logging in or forgot your password, email ACShelp@ahschools.us or call 763-506-HELP (4357). For questions about the report cards or for printing accommodations, please contact the main office at your child’s school.

The 2025 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) Individual Score Reports for students who took a test during the 2024-25 school year are available for families to access online. Families can access the document by logging into ParentVUE or viewing it on the ParentVUE mobile app.

Students in grades 3-8 and in grades 10 and 11 take MCA tests each year. MCA score reports will be available only for students who took an MCA test during the 2024-25 school year. Get step-by-step instructions for logging in to view your student’s test score, and details if you need assistance.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools will launch new websites Dec. 18, 2025. The change is required as the district’s current website vendor, Blackboard, was purchased by Finalsite - another company specializing in supporting school and district website needs.

• This is a renewal of the website contract within the current budget parameters.

• The move is required to ensure Anoka-Hennepin websites are hosted on a platform that will be technically supported in 2026.

💻 Take a look at the new recruitment website, Anoka-Hennepin Jobs, which launched in October.

Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from November 10, 2025.

For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.

🇺🇸 Anoka-Hennepin schools were honored to welcome Veterans and create learning opportunities for students of all ages on Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Veterans Day is always observed officially on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls, and marks the anniversary of the day World War I formally ended — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

📷 View photos from some of the events hosted at schools across the district: https://bit.ly/3LIkQ7z

Science instruction at the elementary level in Anoka-Hennepin moved to a “hands on” approach and now that effort was showcased at the National Science Teaching Association Convention, an event held Nov. 12 -15 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Twig branching out: Anne Norsted, learning and achievement coordinator, presented highlights from Anoka-Hennepin’s successful rollout of Twig Science to conference attendees from across the nation. The School Board approved the new curriculum following a successful pilot program in 2023 with a $2.6 million investment, and the program is now in its second year of implementation district-wide. 🌳

Why it matters: Twig science courses help build a strong foundation in science and foster an interest for in STEM careers. Hands-on activities begin at Kindergarten with a study of plant growth and development and continue by grade level to include science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts in a wide range of areas.

Go deeper: View a video overview of Twig Science or read an overview of the impact Twig Science has mccade in Anoka-Hennepin Schools to date. Twig Science was pursued following an update in state education standards and a realization that the former curriculum was no longer aligned with the standards.

Learning about books included a unique perspective for Coon Rapids Middle School students during a special visit from emerging Twin Cities author Abby Cooper on Nov. 19.

Cooper’s book “Sticks and Stones” is one of the 25 selected titles for inclusion in the District’s annual “Battle of the Books” competition. Battle of the Books students listened to Abby speak during their regularly scheduled morning meeting. Then, during 1st period as an in-school field trip, over 70 interested students signed up to listen to Abby’s high-energy presentation and perspectives regarding life as an author.

Why it matters: Improving interest and proficiency in reading at all grade levels is a strategic priority for Anoka-Hennepin Schools. In “Battle of the Books” teams of three students read, and then test their knowledge and understanding of the selected literature. The highest performing teams at the school level advance to the District event on February 25, 2026. Additional students who aren’t participating in the Battle of the Books were able to engage in meaningful discussions about literacy and writing.

📸 View photos from the author visit.

📕 Read the full story.

• Arts and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEAM)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
• Biomedical and Health Science
• Environmental Science
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Aerospace and Engineering
• Career and technical education programs (STEP for secondary students)

Students who live within the Anoka-Hennepin boundaries may apply to enroll at any of the specialty or magnet schools. The magnet schools are offered to students districtwide in partnership with the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD). The priority registration deadline for NWSISD options is Dec. 17. If families are considering a specialty program change for the upcoming school year, In-district transfer and open enrollment forms are due by Jan. 15.

🔍 Learn more, visit ahschools.us/specialtymagnet.

💻 Get information about enrollment at ahschools.us/enroll.

Anoka-Hennepin’s student-focused Alley & Ave retail boutique located in Historic Downtown Anoka will have extended hours on Thursday, Dec. 11, until 6 p.m. Everything in the store is 25% off.

The store is located at the Sandburg Education Center at 1902 2nd Ave. in Anoka. Enter from the alley side of the building on Second Avenue. Regular store hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alley & Ave is open to the public to shop for home decor, gifts, and furniture refurbished by students. The store offers hands-on experience for special education students participating in the district’s work-based learning program, TEAM (Teaching Employability through Assessment and Manufacturing). This program is designed to help high school and transition-aged students develop additional skills before seeking paid employment.

For more information, visit the Alley and Ave Facebook page.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is hosting an in-person hiring event for operational and student support positions on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 4-6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center located at 2727 N Ferry St. in Anoka. Enter through Door 7.

Join us to learn more about employment opportunities and have a same-day, on-site interview. Participants are strongly encouraged to begin filling out applications in advance at jobs.ahschools.us and come prepared to interview with hiring managers.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools is currently recruiting for operational and student support areas, which include:

• Buildings and grounds, custodial staff
• Child nutrition and food service staff
• Teacher’s assistant/paraeducator and classroom support staff
• Transportation services, crossing guards, traffic control, and bus paraeducators (representatives from the bus companies will also be in attendance)
• Adventures Plus, aquatics, facility monitors, coaches and pre-school
• Special Education assistants and paraeducators
• Substitutes

Everyone plays a role in student achievement; you can make a difference - apply today! Visit jobs.ahschools.us or call 763-506-JOBS for more information.

If you’re looking for a fun class, enrichment activity or athletic opportunity for your child through grade 8, check out Community Ed! Registration is now open for winter/spring youth classes and activities, aquatics and middle school sports. Classes are offered after-school, in the evening and sometimes on the weekends. It’s a great opportunity to give your student time to learn and make new friends outside the traditional school day. View all classes and register online.

• Monday, Dec. 8 - Regular School Board meeting - Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing
• Dec. 24-25 - District closed, holiday.




📆 View the district calendar online.

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