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About Playworks Twin Cities

Playworks Twin Cities begins its second year serving nearly 5,000 kids in nine Minneapolis and Saint Paul schools

Playworks is bringing its trademark brand of safe and inclusive play to ten Twin Cities Public Schools this year. This fall marks Playworks' second year in Minnesota.

In addition to returning to all four of the Saint Paul public schools served in our inaugural year, Playworks Twin Cities will be playing in three new St. Paul schools: Maxfield, Riverview West Side, and Battle Creek Elementary schools.  We are also excited to bring Playworks across the river to Minneapolis -  with coaches on the playground at Northrop Urban Environmental School and Bancroft Elementary.

After spending much of August in training, our expanded team is already creating active and engaging recesses for every child in the schools we serve and increasing opportunities throughout the day for safe and meaningful play.

Our Playworks coaches will provide more than 14,000 hours of direct service to schools and the Twin Cities, modeling respect, inclusion, healthy community, and healthy behavior. We will develop future leaders through our Junior Coach program and instill a love for games after school and through our Playworks Leagues. 

Playworks Twin Cities surveyed teachers and principals from our Saint Paul schools to better understand the difference we can make.  Last year’s results point to even greater success in years to come:

At Recess:

  • 96% reported an increase in the number of students that are physically active during recess
  • 86% reported an increase in the level of cooperation among students during recess
  • 89% reported a decrease in the number of disciplinary referrals during recess

In the Classroom:

  • 93% reported a decrease in the number of conflicts from the playground spilling over to class
  • 90% reported an increase in the level of participation in academic activities
  • 84% reported an increase in the students’ abilities to focus on class activities

Perhaps most remarkably, with Playworks, Saint Paul teachers claimed an additional 20 hours of instruction time per classroom. When every minute of teaching counts, Playworks is adding value unlike any other school-based program.

To learn more about Playworks, contact Executive Director Tom Evers. Stay up to date with Facebook and Twitter.

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