K-12 and Secondary Programs Department. Collection, 1970-Ongoing.

The K-12 and Secondary Programs (KSP) Department has, in essence, existed at this university since the founding of the Mankato State Normal School in 1868, seeing as the original mission was to train teachers for Minnesota’s public schools. In 1921 the institution transitioned into becoming Mankato State Teacher’s College, the focus on education and teacher preparation only became more prominent. In the next few decades, divisions between elementary and secondary education were created, with understanding that students at different stages were in need of different mentorship. During this period, the institution expanded into a broader liberal arts college, but teacher education remained central. Students preparing to teach high school began majoring in content areas (English, Math, etc.) alongside professional education coursework, and administrative units began forming around teacher licensure levels. In the late 20th century, as the university became Mankato State University, teacher education programs were reorganized to reflect increasing specialization and state licensure requirements. Distinctions between elementary, secondary, and K-12 licensure areas became more formal, programs serving secondary and K-12 teachers (e.g., art, music, physical education, world languages) were grouped administratively, and the foundations for what would become KSP were laid through this clustering of licensure-focused programs. This era also saw growing emphasis on field experiences and student teaching, standards-based education, and collaboration between content departments and education faculty. The official KSP department was established in the early 2000s, bringing together secondary education, K-12 licensure, and more focused methods courses and pedagogy that had already existed within Minnesota State University. The goal of this unification mainly being to ensure alignment with Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board requirements, and to strengthen partnerships with regional schools. Of late, the department remains focused on teacher licensure, as well as student teacher placements and field experience for students, while developing an emphasis diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom, the development of Professional Learning Communities, and the integration of technology in the classroom.

Information for this finding aid was obtained from the K-12 and Secondary Programs department website, Minnesota State University, Mankato 1868-2018: A Sesquicentennial History, and information found in the collection.