Where Urban Teacher Program students gain field experience that qualifies for program admission and completion. The Urban Teacher Program (UTP) at Metropolitan State University was established by the state legislature to meet the needs of schools and learners in Minneapolis, St. Paul and diverse inner-ring suburbs. For program admission and completion, the UTP defines "urban" field experience by both geographic location and student demographics, including public schools, community centers, libraries and not-for-profit agencies.
| The map is copied from the Association of Metropolitan School District (AMSD) Member Districts website, The shaded districts only represent member districts, they are not all defined as qualifying sites for urban or inner-ring suburban school experience for the Urban Teacher Program. |  |
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| Anoka Hennepin - 11 Bloomington - 271 Brooklyn Center - 286 Burnsville-Eagan-Savage - 191 Columbia Heights - 13 Eastern Carver County - 112 Eden Prairie - 272 Edina - 273 Elk River - 728 Fridley - 14 Hopkins - 270 Inver Grove Heights - 199 Mahtomedi - 832 Minneapolis - 1 Minnetonka - 276 |
Mounds View - 621 North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale - 622 Orono - 278 Richfield - 280 Robbinsdale - 281 Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan - 196 Roseville - 623 St. Anthony - 282 St. Louis Park - 283 St. Paul - 625 Shakopee - 720 South St. Paul - 6 Spring Lake Park - 16 Wayzata - 284 West St. Paul - 197 |
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In addition to a school's geographic location, it must also closely approximate the demographics of partnering urban school districts and comprise:
- At least 30% students of color
- At least 40% students qualifying for free/reduced lunch
- At least 10% of students whose home language is not English or otherwise identified as "English Language Learners" (ELLs)
The UTP also expects that such experience needs to have occurred within the past five years to qualify for admission to the program. It is the responsibility of teacher candidates to provide documentation of the demographics for a particular school or classroom to verify it meets the UTP's minimum expectations for diversity. Demographic information can be found at district or school websites, or school report cards to the public.