Priorities are guided by a district wide committee with a majority of teachers. Half of the money goes to school sites. There is also a grant process to sites. Some is kept centrally. Each school has a school improvement process.
All staff development is keyed to improvement goals.
Systemic change in the Minneapolis School District has evolved through the quality process. The superintendent is on a performance based contract. The district has a district improvement agenda using base line data and a performance-based approach, along the lines of the Boston Model. The union has been involved in the process through the District Leadership Team, e.g. setting standards, developing assessments.