Elevate 215’s Post

Late last month, the Pittsburgh School District received new recommendations from a consulting firm in Boston that will guide their updated Facilities Utilization Plan. The plan dictates how the school district should approach changes to grade configurations throughout schools, consolidation of schools, and the closing of specific school buildings. There is no doubt that this plan will have adverse outcomes for majority Black schools in the city, where students have been historically and systemically disenfranchised and underfunded. Too often concerns like declining enrollment or poor academic achievement will be cited in school closures, with little account given to the racially imbalanced institutional standards that have hampered public education for decades. We demand that the city of Pittsburgh put a plan in place to ensure that relocated students have a guided transition and understand the full reasons for the move. Make your voice heard on potential Pittsburgh school closures and visit bit.ly/pghschools

Today we celebrate Brown v Board of Education, but our schools are approaching segregation rates we haven’t seen since 1968. This is why new schools, like Madison’s South Elementary— that EQT is proud to have taken part in creating— are vital. It is the same with addressing the history of redlining in Wisconsin. EQT knows we can’t return to the days before Civil Rights, so lets stand tall in defending diversity and investment in our students. https://lnkd.in/gYDh3UTS #EducationEquity

As enrollment declines and federal COVID-19 relief funding runs dry, California district leaders will be forced to rethink how to operate school systems with fewer resources. How can they use this moment to strengthen educational opportunities for all students? Read Bellwether’s report that offers guidance on how to address declining enrollment while strengthening high schools, which FIS contributed to by bringing a parent perspective to this work: https://lnkd.in/ghFh4u_D

It wasn’t until I started working in education policy that it occurred to me to question, why did I grow up in a donut-shaped school district, with the city carved out separately from the county? 🤔It turns out that school district boundaries have a HUGE impact on school segregation, and thanks to a rotten Supreme Court decision 50 years ago, the federal power for addressing this is really limited. But, there’s plenty that states and school districts can do to change this! Check out my new piece, and take a look at how much school districts contribute to segregation in your community. https://lnkd.in/eeGJ4qSg

This is spot on. When we looked at school district composition in 2022 and noticed the kind of demographic shifts Ellie Klein talks about, we dug a little deeper. Three things struck me. First, in the 10 years that we looked at district secessions, we found that, overwhelmingly, those new districts were generally whiter, wealthier than the remaining districts. Second, about 18.5 million students (about 1/3 of K-12 kids) attended a predominantly same-race/ethnicity school during the 2020-21 school year. And 14% of students attended schools where almost all of the student body was of a single race/ethnicity. Third, our analysis showed that predominantly same-race/ethnicity schools of different races/ethnicities exist in close proximity to one another within districts, but most commonly exist among neighboring districts. For example, about 13,500 predominately same-race/ethnicity schools (about 14 percent of all public K-12 schools) are located within 10 miles of a predominately same-race/ethnicity school of a different race/ethnicity; of these schools, 90 percent have a different same-race/ethnicity pair in a different school district. You can access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e94hsuqk

Charter schools seem like the education world’s bad boy with a report card full of potential. Three decades in, the shine is wearing off, with critics firing accusations of profiteering and segregation. #CharterSchools Remember the original dream? Community-run schools breaking the mold, igniting innovation, and giving kids a fighting chance? The brightest stars like @chartercollab in the charter universe are still shining. They’re the ones with the multiple accountability measures, the ones empowering communities, the ones obsessed with transforming lives, not lining pockets. Dynamic public education needs renegades AND reformers. The renegades push boundaries, the reformers hold them accountable. So, let’s ditch the misinformation and have a real conversation. Can charters be the future of education? Absolutely, but only if they get back to their roots. Thoughts?🤔 #TheFutureIsNow #PublicEducation #DynamicDuo #AccountabilityWins #EmpoweringEducation #CommunityControl #EducationRevolution #charterschoolsweek #blackeducators https://lnkd.in/eTDVFQ3U

🏫 Chicago Board of Education’s Strategic Plan: Impact on Charter Schools🏫 The Chicago Board of Education is preparing to release a five-year strategic plan aimed at revitalizing district-run neighborhood schools and revisiting the choice system. Charter advocates are watching closely, as concerns grow about potential impacts on charter schools—public institutions managed by private organizations. Many fear the renewal process has become too burdensome, detracting from the focus on student success. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gejANFqZ As NLCP approaches our own charter renewal, we are seeking support from our community to ensure we can continue to provide excellent education to our students. For more information or to offer support, contact Katie Hogan, Manager of External Affairs, at [email protected] to write a letter of support! #CharterSchools #EducationStrategy #NLCP #CommunitySupport #EducationReform #CPS #CharterRenewal #Chicago #NorthLawndale #Chalkbeat

The Public Interest Law Center is compiling excellent updates on this landmark decision at https://lnkd.in/eeaEm3NT.

Last evening, PTOs and PTAs from many HISD elementary schools hosted a roundtable discussion on the HISD Bond Propositions A and B, featuring speakers from both supporting and opposing organizations. Two central questions emerged: What should the bond process have been? Are opponents simply against it because of Mike Miles? The Texas Association of School Boards outlines seven steps for a successful bond campaign, emphasizing community involvement and trust-building. “One of the keys to a successful bond process is building trust with the voters. School boards can work with their superintendents and staff to increase their chances of having a successful bond election by communicating with the community. This is essential in all cases, and especially important if there have been trust issues,” notes Slaydon. “Ultimately, it comes down to: Do the voters believe you’re going to do what you tell them?” When you hear #notrustnobond, it’s not just about the bond proposal itself—it reflects the bond that should exist between Houston ISD and the community. Without this trust, there should be no Bond. And the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board agrees. The Editorial Board acknowledged the pressing need for facility repairs but stressed two key concerns: • Lack of Trust in Leadership: Mike Miles has not earned the community’s trust due to poor communication, dismissiveness, and critical missteps like mishandling bonuses and abruptly firing experienced educators. • Concerns with the Bond Process: The bond proposal was rushed with limited community input, raising fears of mismanagement and inequitable fund distribution. With no empowered oversight committee, there’s a risk resources could be wasted or used ineffectively. The Chronicle recommends rejecting the current bond in favor of a smaller, phased proposal focused on urgent health and safety issues, allowing HISD to rebuild trust with voters. Read the full article for more insights on this important issue. #notrustnobond #wrongbondwrongtime <https://lnkd.in/g5D6gcju>

A new analysis finds MPS would lose more than $2 million in funding if the Carmen Schools of Science and Technology network of charter schools were to leave the district, in The Center Square https://lnkd.in/gsiUwbnm #EducationAnalysis #CharterSchools #EducationFunding #EducationPolicy #SchoolChoice #EducationReform