Our Stories

Our Stories

Launching the Center for Antiracist Education

Feb 18, 2021 0 4 min read
Launching the Center for Antiracist Education
Today, the Center for Antiracist Education (CARE) is launching to respond to the enormous number of teachers who want to contribute to ending racism in their schools and in society, but say they lack the tools, resources, and professional development to do so. According to a survey conducted by EdWeek, 84% of teachers want to teach […]

Confused About the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards?

Feb 2, 2021 0 8 min read
elementary schoolers siting on a rug in a classroom
I’ve been casually hearing about Illinois’ proposed Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards for months (like, at a board meeting or in the context of the ongoing effort to diversify Illinois’ not-very-diverse pool of educators), but it seems like over the last week, talk of the Standards has exploded. And as with many fast-moving […]

Moving Closer to Racial Justice

Jan 9, 2021 0 3 min read
Moving Closer to Racial Justice
Illinois and America are facing a reckoning with the systemic racism we have maintained since the country’s beginnings. Many people seem to finally realize that it’s not enough to just “not be racist.” Systemic racism keeps racist systems alive, even if we lived in a world without any racist individuals. We must commit to being anti-racist […]

Confused About the IL Legislative Black Caucus Education Package (HB 2170)?

Jan 7, 2021 0 11 min read
IL state capitol
1/12/2021 UPDATE: The bill has now passed both chambers and will head to the Governor for his signature! Amendment 3 made a few additional changes before it passed, most notably removing the changes to the Invest in Kids Act altogether, launching a feasibility study to consider the appropriate agency home for the Workforce Investment Act program […]

A Specific Way to Dismantle Systemic Racism

Oct 19, 2020 0 2 min read
A Specific Way to Dismantle Systemic Racism
The fight for educational equity doesn’t start or stop at the schoolhouse. The shackles of inequity extend far beyond, including to our “justice” system and the way in which courts incarcerate individuals before they go to trial — simply because they cannot afford to post bond. That’s why we are standing with Illinois Senator Robert […]

Dual Credit Deserves Equity

Sep 24, 2020 0 2 min read
Dual Credit Deserves Equity
The Illinois Constitution makes clear a “fundamental goal” of the State is the “educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities.” It continues that the State “shall provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services.” Those are high-minded ideas, but the truth is that an effective, equity-driven […]