Last week, parents and students got together and wrote letters to IPS board members. In these letters, they asked the board to pass a resolution directing the IPS administration to deliver a plan by June that will focus on scaling public schools of all types that close the opportunity gap.
Join parents by sending an email to IPS leaders today. It only takes a few minutes with this form that allows you to customize your email.
At the Action session in March, I asked IPS leaders to grow schools that close the opportunity gap. I also shared some of my story, including my journey with advocacy and how long I’ve been pushing for equity.
Listen to my testimony here:
“It really shouldn’t be this hard.”
-Sherry Holmes
At the recent IPS board meeting on February 29, I shared my journey of finding the right school for my children, highlighting the challenges in closing the opportunity gap in education.
Watch my testimony here:
On February 7, a group of public school parents unveiled their petition calling for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) to grow proven models from all school types, including local charter schools. The petition led by parents garnered more than 1,000 signatures, showcasing strong community support for district leaders to develop a strategy that will close the opportunity gap by scaling the top performing schools for Black and Brown students.
Watch the full event below:
Yesterday, advocates delivered a petition to IPS leaders. In total, over 1,000 community members in IPS ZIP codes signed this call for district leaders to develop a specific plan to grow the best schools for Black and Brown students according to state assessment data. And we had a great crowd of parents on hand to deliver the petition at the IPS headquarters to four IPS commissioners who attended the event.
While yesterday’s event was great, it’s the advocacy ahead that will ultimately lead to action by IPS leaders. That’s why I’m asking you to take two minutes to send an email to IPS board members. Closing the opportunity gap in Indianapolis Public Schools must be a top priority for education leaders.
There is strength in numbers, and we are truly better when we advocate together.
All children are capable of amazing achievement in the classroom. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system.
For Immediate Release
February 7, 2024
Contact:
Kayla Mattas
765.721.2833 (mobile)
Parents release petition signed by over 1,000 calling for district to grow top schools for Black and Brown students
INDIANAPOLIS – A group of public school parents unveiled their petition today calling for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) to grow proven models from all school types, including local charter schools. The petition led by parents garnered more than 1,000 signatures, showcasing strong community support for district leaders to develop a strategy that will close the opportunity gap by scaling the top performing schools for Black and Brown students.
Advocates delivered the petition to IPS leaders today at an event that took place at the district administration building. Parents Gregory Henson, Irma Perdomo and Susan Sargent, alongside Believe Circle City student Elazia Davison, shared their personal stories that detailed why elevating Black and Brown student achievement is so important to them.
“I am here today to celebrate the growing support from our community to improve public education in our city and intentionally work toward partnerships [with data-proven schools] . . .” Sargent said.
Parents who led the press conference asked the IPS board to pass a resolution calling on the district administration to deliver a detailed plan by the summer to scale school models – including public charter schools – that are closing the opportunity gap according to state assessment data.
“We also want to be clear that this plan must be in place before parents are expected to support any future referendum put forward by IPS,” Henson said.
Parents began gathering signatures last fall after reviewing ILEARN data. In October, the IPS board members were presented with similar data regarding assessment outcomes in and around the IPS district. The report highlighted the top schools in the city when it comes to proficiency for Black and Latino students.
“I am grateful [IPS] shared the data because it gives us, as a community, the information we need to know – information not easily visible in other districts,” Perdomo said.
According to the October IPS board presentation:
Parents pointed out that, in contrast, some independent charter schools within IPS boundaries are delivering student outcomes for Black and Latino students that are anywhere between three and five times better than the state average for pass rates on both sections of the ILEARN, according to the Indiana Department of Education.
“I am fortunate that the school I chose has pushed me to excel and set me up to break barriers in my next chapter of life,” Davison said. “I want every student in our city to know that feeling.”
Community members wishing to join the parent-led efforts should visit: growwhatworks.com
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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all.
About Better Together: The Better Together campaign is supported and driven by Indianapolis families who strive to unite IPS and charter schools for the benefit of our kids and community.
About EmpowerED Families: EmpowerED Families connects with Indianapolis parents, families, community and school leaders to help build parent power and to activate change.
Media Advisory
Feb. 6, 2024
Contact:
Kayla Mattas
765.721.2833 (mobile)
Parents to deliver petition signed by 1,000 IPS residents calling for district to grow top schools for Black and Brown students
INDIANAPOLIS – A group of public-school parents will hold a press conference at 12:00 p.m. on February 7 to present their petition, which has gathered over 1,000 signatures, to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) leaders. Parents and concerned community members are calling on the IPS board to direct the administration to deliver a detailed plan by the summer to scale school models – including public charter schools — that are closing the opportunity gap.
During the press conference, public school parents Gregory Henson, Irma Perdomo and Susan Sargent will join Believe Circle City student Elazia Davison to deliver the petition and tell their personal stories about why elevating Black and Brown student achievement is so important to them. The parent speakers represent advocates from Stand for Children Indiana and EmpowerED Families.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7 | 12 p.m.
WHERE: The John Morton Finney Center for Educational Services, 120 E Walnut St
Parents began gathering signatures last fall after reviewing state ILEARN data. In October, the IPS board members were presented with similar data regarding ILEARN scores in and around the IPS district. IPS’ data report highlighted the top schools in the city when it comes to proficiency for Black and Latino students.
According to the October IPS board presentation:
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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all.
About Better Together: The Better Together campaign is supported and driven by Indianapolis families who strive to unite IPS and charter schools for the benefit of our kids and community.
About EmpowerED Families: EmpowerED Families connects with Indianapolis parents, families, community and school leaders to help build parent power and to activate change.
Over the past few months, parents launched a petition calling on IPS leaders to create a plan to systematically grow public school programs that are closing the opportunity gap and showing evidence of sustained success for Black and Brown students. The petition ended up with more than 1,000 signatures within IPS! We want you to be a part of a press event where the community will present these signatures to IPS board members and the superintendent.
Únete a los padres que entregan una petición a los dirigentes del IPS
En los últimos meses, los padres lanzaron una petición pidiendo a los líderes del IPS crear un plan para hacer crecer sistemáticamente los programas de las escuelas públicas que están cerrando la brecha de oportunidades y mostrando evidencia de éxito sostenido para los estudiantes negros y marrones. ¡La petición terminó con más de 1,000 firmas dentro de IPS! Queremos que usted sea parte de un evento de prensa donde la comunidad presentará estas firmas a los miembros de la junta de IPS y al superintendente.
Vin rejwenn paran yo pou remèt yon petisyon bay dirijan IPS yo
Pandan dènye mwa ki sot pase la yo, paran yo te lanse yon petisyon pou mande dirijan IPS yo pou yo ta mete sou pye yon plan ki chita sou metòd ak prensip ki byen òganize pou devlope pwogram lekòl piblik yo yon fason pou bouche twou vid ki genyen nan òpòtinite yo epi ki montre aklè prèv siksè ki ka dire lontan pou elèv ki nwa ak elèv koulè jòn fonse yo. Petisyon an te fini ak plis pase 1,000 siyati pou IPS! Nou ta renmen ou vin patisipe nan yon evenman pou laprès kote kominote a pral prezante tout siyati sa yo ak manm konsèy IPS la epi ak moun k’ap deside anlè nan nivo ki pi wo nan sistèm lan.
For years now, I’ve advocated that kids in every neighborhood have access to a great school. I’ve advocated for failing schools to model after successful ones that close the opportunity or achievement gap because I know all too well the gaps that exist in many of our schools.
This January, I testified at the State Board of Education meeting because I want to see that change and because I believe it is important to keep our state’s A-F letter grades and relaunch an accountability system that puts the proper focus on closing unjust opportunity gaps.
WATCH MY TESTIMONY HERE:
I would like to thank Secretary Jenner and the State Board of Education for the opportunity to speak today. My name is LaToya Tahirou. I have 3 beautiful children, two are school-aged and one has graduated.
For years now, I’ve advocated that kids in every neighborhood have access to a great school. I’ve advocated for failing schools to model after successful ones that close the opportunity or achievement gap because I know all too well the gaps that exist in many of our schools.
I am here today because I want to see that change and because I believe it is important to keep our state’s A-F letter grades and relaunch an accountability system that puts the proper focus on closing unjust opportunity gaps. A-F grades for schools and districts are a system people know, and these grades, when they meant something, helped parents like me choose our schools, as well as advocate for positive changes in our struggling schools. It provides a sense of urgency around the schools that need more supports and resources and our children receiving a great education is urgent.
The quality education my children do or do not receive is a catalyst for them to have a better life.
Consider single-parent households, consider the kids who come from great disparities, and consider families who do not speak English before you consider moving forward with an accountability system. People who live in struggling communities are already bogged down with life’s struggles. These families need a simplified system – that’s why A – F grades in school accountability are important.
I remember sitting in a board room, not unlike this one, when my oldest daughter was still in elementary school. I sat there crying as they told me that the school she was attending, a school I was at one time excited for her to attend, had been failing for years.
As they read their statistics, I felt hopeless – she had already been in several schools—all in an effort to find the right fit for her. But I knew that my voice mattered in making positive change. I also knew that the school was in transition. A model was put in place to help turn the school around.
I learned about our A-F grading system around this time and it was a driver for the change I would continue to advocate for.
Since that meeting, I’ve spoken at too many press conferences and school board meetings to count. I’ve advocated for high-quality schools in every corner of my community in every way I know how. I was able to place my two youngest children in a school that is the right fit for them – a school doing a much better job of closing opportunity gaps compared to the other schools around us.
As you work to revamp the current system that has been stuck in giving out null-grades, I hope there are no plans to abolish the A-F system. Instead, I would like to see it improved. I would like to see more transparency around the data that determines the letter grade. I would like to see opportunity gap data count toward a school’s grade.
Parents need to know how schools are doing.
Thank you.
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