Parent concerns are important considering that in Georgia and in Metro Atlanta districts, Black children are disproportionately placed and served in special education programs. Especially Black boys. After the special education department presentation during the live streamed board meeting, concerns about the guardrails arose again from stakeholders. Special education is an area where many inequities can be found. Some of…
Valuing Parent Concerns Is Our Top Priority for Equity Work in Public Schools
Most parents in America are concerned with the academic learning loss many children are experiencing during the pandemic. As this is a concern of all parents, there are grave inequities around learning loss that connect to the age old issues of class and race. It’s a concern that can’t simply be talked about in equity conversations. Valuing parent concerns is…
Equity Must Include the Atlanta Board of Education Mandating an Annual Audit of Individualized Health Plans to Protect Students.
The EdLanta Student Coalition members have been hard at work researching and monitoring severe health conditions of students as schools have reopened for face to face learning. Overall, at least 244 children have died of COVID-19, according to the CDC. Latino and Black children currently represent approximately 65% of these deaths, according to CDC data. This is why I support…
“Self Care” Has Become the New Educational Catch Phrase But Isn’t Moving the Needle Regarding Teacher Burnout.
Teachers used to stay in the field for 20+ years, most retiring from the profession. Coming from a family of educators, my mother retired as an ESOL teacher after 33 years. Now, it’s hard for school districts to retain teachers for the first three years. “According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, About 500,000 (15%) of teachers in the U.S.…
No One Wants to Eat Public School Lunch
No one wants to eat public school lunch. But there are many children and families who depend on it. Public school lunch is bad and has been bad since American television shows were in black and white. Students have always expressed disdain over the school nutrition program. What does it take to get healthy, quality, good food in public schools for…
Customer Service Should Be Grade A for Parents in Public Schools
November is National Family Engagement Month As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, public schools can show parents how thankful they are for them by focusing on ways to improve and maintain customer service. All parents and families want and deserve Chick-fil-A customer service when they come to the school or are engaged by school/district staff. I know parents…
A Veteran Educator Is Working to Improve Atlanta’s School Board for Student Success
EdLanta Director, Jason B. Allen is running for Atlanta Board of Education, Seat 9, At Large