Earlier in the Challenge, we explored how segregation persists in American communities. Our economically and racially divided neighborhoods are leading to inequitable educational environments and adverse academic outcomes for our youth. Studies show that children from families with low incomes enter high school with literacy skills 5 years behind and are over 4 times more likely to drop out than those from high-income families. Students of color, who are more likely to attend under resourced schools than their white counterparts, suffer because of teachers working in under-resourced school environments and large classes sizes, which when controlling for socioeconomic status, almost entirely explain disparities in academic achievement according to Brookings.

Michigan is in the bottom ten states for African American Students in early literacy and eighth-grade math, Review 2020 Michigan Achieves! Indicators (page 25) in 2020 State of Michigan Education Report, Education Trust-Midwest. Explore options within the workforce for people with a significantly limited education. Reflect on the terms “lazy” and “undereducated” as you explore.

Check out this interactive database to examine racial disparities in educational opportunities and school discipline. Reflect on your education experiences, and the disciplinary actions taken for your (or your child) Black peers. How did this shape your ideas about Black people?

Read this report about the Community Condition of Access to Learning Environments from the Livability Lab for Muskegon. (repeat article from yesterday in case you missed it!)

Do you have a local report for your community that focuses on education inequity? Send it to us at dominique@unitedwaylakeshore.org we would love to share it with those taking the challenge.

Watch Boston teacher Kandice Sumner on the TED stage discuss the disparities she sees in her classroom every day because of segregation in our school systems. Reflect on the disparities that impact learning in your local schools due to segregation. Identify your local community resources that are working to address the disparities. Is there a way for you to help magnify their efforts?

Sorry, no podcast offerings today.

United Way of the Lakeshore is partnering with the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance to hold a town hall discussion to reflect with other participants taking the challenge. These town hall meeting will happen on Wednesdays at 12:00 PM via Zoom throughout the challenge. We'd like to thank Gloria Lara for being our facilitator for these discussions.

United Way of the Lakeshore is offering a safe and secure place for you and other in the challenge to be able to reflect and discuss about what you read today. These reflections are optional but a great way to connect with others.