#NCSD2020 - VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
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Stay tuned - we plan to announce more
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We'll be taking some of our #NCSD2020 conference sessions online, starting with our keynote presentation and advocacy training. Hope to see you there!
Advocacy Training
May 12th 3:30-5pm EST
Featuring
Sunil Mansukhani and Stephen Cobb from The Raben Group.
Keynote Presentation
May 14th 2-3:30pm EST
A conversation between Vanessa Siddle Walker and Elizabeth McRae, facilitated by Dani McClain. With introductions by Courtney E. Martin and concluding remarks by Andrew Lefkowits.
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BROWN V. BOARD ANNIVERSARY
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| The 66th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education (May 17th) is quickly approaching. Let us know if you have anything planned, so that we can help share the information. Email [email protected] with details. |
NEWS FROM ACROSS
OUR COUNTRY
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- Federal Court holds that there is "fundamental right to a basic minimum education" Read coverage from the Detroit News.
Via the Center for Educational Equity: "Students in very low performing schools in Detroit brought the case. They claim that--due to the absence of qualified teachers, crumbling facilities, and insufficient materials--the conditions in their schools are so bad students leave school virtually illiterate. As the decision states, 'Plaintiffs sit in classrooms where not even the pretense of education takes place, in schools that are functionally incapable of delivering access to literacy.' Because of this, these students attend 'schools in name only, characterized by slum-like conditions and lacking the most basic educational opportunities that children elsewhere in Michigan and throughout the nation take for granted.'" More here.
Derek W. Black, NCSD member and professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, explains why this opinion and its language is so monumental via the Washington Post: "The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals...just delivered the holy grail of education advocacy..."
However, the Supreme Court is likely to intervene and--some advocates predict--overturn the decision. This op-ed in the New York Times explains why: "A Constitutional Right to Literacy for Detroit's Kids? They Deserve Better Schools, But the Courts Don't Offer Much Hope."
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Synopsis:
"Many American schools continue to struggle with segregation. This important book tells the story of how two school districts--one a predominantly White and wealthy suburban community and the other a more diverse and urbanized community--were merged into a single district to work toward a solution for school segregation. The authors focus on the Morris School District in New Jersey as an exemplar to demonstrate what is possible and how it can be accomplished."
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COMMUNITY OF THOUGHT & ACTION
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Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law will host a discussion focused on PK-12 civil rights educational issues related to COVID-19 and potential litigation. They intend to set aside at least an hour for questions from participants. Attendees urged not to disclose any confidential information.
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The NAACP LDF is working to with other civil rights organizations to #FilltheDivide and raising awareness about how school closures could further widen the achievement gap between white students and students of color.
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Joint Statement of Education and Civil Rights Organizations Concerning Equitable Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic School Closures and Beyond
"Unsurprisingly, the transition to educating students in their homes or shelters has exposed and exacerbated inequities in education, food security, and housing that have long existed. With limited federal leadership - and despite heroic efforts by many administrators, educators, and school staff - schools, as well as state and local educational agencies, are struggling to provide instruction and support to the nation's students in an effective and equitable manner, regardless of students' race, ethnicity, national origin, English proficiency, disability, housing status or socioeconomic status."
Read more here.
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IDRA has a host of resources available related to COVID-19.
- "Learning Goes On" Weekly Alerts with Bilingual Policy Updates and Resources for Educators and Families
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Equitable Funding:
IDRA joined civil rights and advocacy organizations across the country to
send a letter
to U.S. congressional leaders, urging them to allocate supplemental funding for Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure programs for English learners receive more funds.
English Learners face educational inequities
that have been made worse by COVID-19 and inadequate at-home learning resources.
The
Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition (TLEEC)
(founded by IDRA) sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Commissioner of Education Mike Morath, and Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller, urging the leaders to distribute and monitor federal COVID-19 emergency education relief funds equitably.
Info on other policy letters is
here
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Check out the Learning Policy Institute's
Learning in the Time of COVID-19
blog series, which explores evidence-based and equity-focused strategies and investments to address the current crisis and build long-term systems capacity.
Recent blogs:
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| Beloved Community met with research partners in Washington, D.C. in January to set the stage for the equity in schools diverse by design research project. |
Recent blog posts:
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Beloved Community has been awarded grants from the New Schools Venture Fund, Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to continue to build and scale their Equity in Schools work.
A
dvocacy efforts:
Beloved Community
is keeping their equity study at the forefront of everyone's minds.
Now more than ever it is imperative that equity remain a focus, as we navigate uncertain times that are targeting students of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
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CROSS-MOVEMENT RESOURCE LIST
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The Century Foundation
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City Garden Montessori
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Learning Policy Institute
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NAACP LDF
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Teens Take Charge
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May 19, 10am-12pm
Speaker: Matt Gonzales, M.Ed., Director, Integration and Innovation Initiative (i3), NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools
Description:
This webinar will review educational policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic from across the country, with special consideration for the implications on equity and access for students. Topics will encourage educators, social workers, and policy makers to construct school-based and system-wide policies with a lens towards culturally responsive and sustaining education (CRSE).
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June 29 - July 3
The Summer Institute will take place at the Othering & Belonging Institute on the UC Berkeley campus. Some days will require travel to specific locations and sites. More logistics and details to be announced.
If the shelter-in-place order remains until the end of June, the Summer Institute will be held via video conference.
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