kmattas, Author at Stand for Children Indiana

I want IPS to strengthen partnerships

Parent & Family Engagement | 01/3/2024

Dontia Dyson IPS parent

I spoke at the IPS board meeting in December because I want to see the IPS board create a values statement that details how IPS can deepen and strengthen partnerships with our public charter schools. We are so much stronger when we work together.

WATCH MY TESTIMONY HERE:

READ WHAT I ASKED IPS LEADERS

Good evening Superintendent Johnson and IPS board members,

My name is Dontia Dyson and I am an IPS father. My son attends Matchbook Learning and is in kindergarten. My youngest son will attend the same school when he is of age. My daughter previously attended this school as well as Longfellow –she is now in high school.

I have stood at this podium several times over the past few years. At times I have advocated for our innovation schools to have equitable funding. Other times, I have advocated for you to grow schools that are closing the opportunity gap. I have advocated for more funding and resources for SPED students and staff.

I am here tonight with a request that I think touches nearly everything I have ever advocated for – something I know many parents are asking you to consider.

I see that this district is doing some excellent and innovative things – I see many of our public charter schools doing the same – and I want to see this board create a values statement that details how IPS can deepen and strengthen partnerships with our public charter schools. We are so much stronger when we work together.

It shouldn’t be public charter schools versus IPS schools. At the end of the day—what truly matters is that every student in Indianapolis gets a great education –gets an equitable education. The debate over public school type is causing friction where there needs to be collaboration.

I understand attempts to partner have had bumps in the road at times – but I also think we need to put the past in the past. We need to do whatever it takes to move forward. We must reconcile for the sake of the kids.

We should all be striving to ensure every school is a great place for our kids. We should all want to learn from schools that are doing great things—closing opportunity gaps –and providing a world-class curriculum for our students. We should all want to learn from the school doing the best for our SPED students and ELL students –regardless of the school type. We should be partnering with, growing and learning from schools that are closing the opportunity gaps.

We truly are better when we work together. Please create a statement that spells out how IPS plans to strengthen our partnerships with public charter schools.

Thank you.

The power of believing

Current Events & News | 12/21/2023

LaToya Tahirou Parent and longtime Stand Indiana volunteer

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is witnessing the power of believing. Whether it’s a child’s joy from their belief in the magic that comes with this time of year, or a parent’s focus on the hope of what the New Year will bring – there’s a belief that powers us.

But when we don’t believe – in each other or in ourselves – it can drain us and make it hard to find hope. I was a parent who didn’t believe in my ability to advocate and make a difference.

I knew my kids were not getting what they needed in their schools, but I didn’t think I was educated enough or the right person to push for changes. I didn’t know the power of my personal story. But those days are over thanks to my hard work and the support of Stand for Children Indiana.

Thanks to the training, coaching and compassion of my “Stand family,” I believe I am more than enough to lead the change I seek in our schools and community. I have made advocacy a top priority, and we’re seeing critical improvements by pushing the system to truly put kids first.

As this year comes to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. It is through donations that Stand Indiana is able to help parents like me believe in the innate power and gifts we hold inside ourselves to stand up and push for more just and equitable public schools.

DONATE TODAY

If you’re unable to donate but have two minutes, please consider posting this donation page to social media: https://donate.stand.org/a/c3-iN

I hope you have a warm and peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

One amazing year

Current Events & News | 12/20/2023

Justin Ohlemiller Executive Director, Stand for Children Indiana

When you fight for justice and equity in education, it’s easy to focus on what’s next, because there’s always a critical issue to tackle and more advocacy to be done.

But let’s not head into 2024 without reflecting on the remarkable work done this year by you and other Stand for Children advocates. Whether you joined us for a celebration or workshop, used your voice to speak at the statehouse, took an online action of any kind or made a donation – you contributed to some major changes that will spark better outcomes for children in Indy and across our state.

This year, because of advocates like you:

Stand helped usher in a new era for how literacy is taught in Indiana, which should result in thousands of struggling readers getting the instruction and support they need to accelerate their learning.

After decades of thousands of children missing out on the chance to earn a scholarship to support their college dreams, Stand successfully pushed for changes to state law that will make the 21st Century Scholarship enrollment process truly automatic for eligible students.

We led the charge on a bill to help eliminate unjust fees and costs for parents and children in the youth justice system, which is already working to ensure low-income families aren’t held back by court oversight when they simply can’t afford to pay.

And we worked alongside our valued partners to push back when IPS attempted to move forward with a referendum that would have dramatically increased a huge funding gap impacting public schools in our city that serve some of our highest need students. The campaign led by Stand parent advocates resulted IPS tabling the inequitable funding plan, which enabled state action to ensure future referendums are shared equitably among all public schools in IPS.

None of these wins for kids in our community would be possible without you. I’m so grateful for your support and can’t wait for the work ahead in 2024.

Let’s keep the momentum rolling into the New Year. Please consider making a donation to Stand to help us build this movement for justice and equity in our public schools.

DONATE

November IPS advocate videos

Access to High Quality Schools | 12/1/2023

Greg Henson, Sherry Holmes and Liz Arias Advocates

All children are capable of amazing achievement in the classroom. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system.

view the data

It’s Giving Tuesday

Current Events & News | 11/28/2023

Justin Ohlemiller Executive Director

On this #GivingTuesday, please take two minutes to support the courageous parents, teachers and youth who are using their voices to fight for more just and equitable public schools in our community.

As a 100% donor-supported organization, we rely on allies like you to offer the leadership training and educational programming focused on helping historically underserved communities to be the change-makers our children need. Will you donate to support our work in 2023?

Donate today

Every dollar raised is invested in: 

Providing families with training and resources to use their voices to champion better educational opportunities for kids.
Pushing for equitable policies focused on closing the opportunity gap in our schools.
Ensuring the changes we fight for reach classrooms and directly support students.

We have a lot to accomplish together!

If you’re unable to give but still want to support our work, consider sharing the below on social media today:

Your gift provides families with training and resources to use their voices for change. If you’re able to this #GivingTuesday, I recommend a donation to Stand for Children Indiana: https://donate.stand.org/a/c3-in-givingtuesday If you’re not able, please share my post!

I’m speaking up because I know that all IPS kids can achieve

Access to High Quality Schools | 11/2/2023

Gregory Henson IPS Parent

I know firsthand what is on the other side of not getting a great education that sets you up for success. I know what it is to work multiple jobs and still struggle to pay bills. I know how hard it was to get my life back on track.

I went to an IPS high school, and I dropped out my junior year. I went down a path in the name of survival but eventually found my way back to solid ground. I went back to school and received my diploma after my daughter was born. It was both incredibly hard and incredibly rewarding.

My daughter is now an IPS student.

As a parent, I want to see the opportunity gap close in IPS because I want my daughter to have a better life than I had. I don’t want her to struggle—to have to work as hard. I want her to be more successful at a younger age. I want her to graduate with a great education and go on to fulfill her dreams.

But more than just for my daughter, I believe that all kids in the IPS district deserve an equitable education.

There are schools here in Indianapolis that are doing a better job of closing opportunity gaps and I hope IPS will look at those examples and decide to partner with them or grow their models.

If we don’t close this gap, we are handing our kids right on over to the streets. We are inviting the school-to-prison pipeline. Closing the opportunity gaps in the IPS district would not only help end the cycle of poverty, but it would also help our community thrive. Closing the opportunity gap gives our children something incredible. It gives our children and our community hope.

If you also want IPS to close the opportunity gap by growing proven schools, please join me and add your name to this petition before it closes.

ADD YOUR NAME

All children are capable of amazing achievement in the classroom. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system.

view the data

Watch what I asked IPS leaders

Access to High Quality Schools | 11/1/2023

Cristal Salgado Parent

As a parent and a community member who loves this city and cares about the kids in Indianapolis, I decided to speak at the IPS Action Session in October. I shared my story with IPS leaders. I asked them to grow the schools that work, schools like the one my son attends. I know that by partnering with the programs that work, opportunity gaps can be closed.

JOIN ME: ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS PETITION

Watch what I asked IPS leaders:

Read my speech

Good Evening IPS board and Superintendent Dr. Johnson,

My name is Cristal Salgado, and I am a community member who loves this city and cares about the kids in Indianapolis. I heard that tonight you’ll be sharing school performance data – I hope that includes talking about the schools in our city that are closing the opportunity gap. I think sharing this data proves there are people in this room who believe there can be a change. I also believe there can be a change, so I want to thank you and say I hope you use this data to grow schools that are getting equitable results for kids.

My son is now in the 8^th grade and attends a charter – one of the school models that is doing a better job of closing the opportunity gap compared to most in Marion County. Most of the kids at his school live in the IPS district.

Before he attended the school he does now, when my son was in the 6^th grade and the beginning of 7^th grade, he was bullied. He was struggling with his homework and falling behind. I tried to talk to his school and teachers several times. I did everything I knew and when nothing worked, I decided to change his school.

Now my son is doing well. He is more confident. He gets his schoolwork done. He’s talking about college for the first time ever. He’s thinking about his future and has hope for his future. This is the type of education I think all our kids deserve.

I drive my son 30 minutes to school and 30 minutes back from school every day. I know not all parents can do this – which is why I hope to see this district grow the schools that are closing the opportunity gap. When I see that only 5.4% of Black students and 8.3% of Latino students in this district passed both sections of the ILEARN, it makes my heart hurt. It is so sad to hear these numbers knowing my son’s experience and how different it could be. I know that by partnering with the programs that work, opportunity gaps can be closed. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me.

Press play to watch why I want IPS to grow schools that work

Access to High Quality Schools | 10/25/2023

Dontia Dyson Parent

I want my children to have an equitable education because it is something all kids deserve. Because I know there are schools here in Indy doing a much better job of closing the opportunity gap, I hope that IPS looks at those schools and partners that can get results for kids like mine.

JOIN PARENTS: ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS PETITION

There is not an achievement gap, there’s an opportunity gap because ALL kids can achieve. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system. As a parent, I want IPS leaders to do everything they can to close the opportunity gaps I see. I want them to partner with schools, no matter the type of school, when it means kids like mine will get a fair shot. I want them to grow the schools that are working.

Add your name to this petition if you agree that IPS should look at the data and then grow the models that are proven. Our kids deserve schools that are equitable and get results.

All children are capable of amazing achievement in the classroom. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system.

view the data

I want to see the IPS district and all its students succeed

Parent & Family Engagement | 10/17/2023

Shawanda Tyson Parent

It is not a secret that there are opportunity gaps in the IPS district, but I believe if we grow the schools that are working, we can begin to close those gaps. I believe IPS can be a district where all students achieve no matter their race or income level. Having a district free of opportunity gaps starts with acknowledging the schools, regardless of type, where students are on grade level and having a plan in place to grow those models.

If you agree, I hope you’ll join me and sign this petition today.

ASK IPS TO GROW SCHOOLS THAT CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP

Too many IPS students don’t have access to high-performing schools that are closing the opportunity gap. Together we could change that.

Please add your name to this petition that is asking IPS leaders to grow the schools that are getting dramatically better results for Black and Brown students. Closing the opportunity gap is good for everyone.

No student is perfect, no school is perfect, no parent is perfect—but if we invest in the growth of models that work, we can begin to close the gap and aim even higher for the sake of Indianapolis students.

In September I asked IPS leaders to share data that highlights the public schools in our city that are closing the opportunity gap, regardless if those schools are IPS schools or local public charters, by the IPS Action Session in October. Watch my video here.

Change only happens if we keep showing up

Parent & Family Engagement | 10/6/2023

Sherry Holmes IPS parent

As a parent, all I want is for my kids to have what I didn’t have, which is why I have spent years advocating for IPS leaders to grow schools that are closing the opportunity gap.

Join me by signing this petition asking leaders to grow proven models.

My children’s IPS school has a lower opportunity gap compared to many, but I didn’t know that when I picked their school. I feel lucky they attend one of the schools that has a much higher percentage of Black and low-income students testing on grade level, but I wish more parents could send their child to any IPS school and know that it was succeeding at closing the gap and helping our kids thrive.

Sadly, that’s not the case for most families in the IPS district. But there is good news: There are schools here in Indianapolis that are doing a much better job of closing the opportunity gap. These are schools that could be replicated under the district umbrella if district leaders decide to form strategic partnerships and grow data-proven models.

At the September IPS Action Session, several parents asked IPS leaders to share data on some of these schools. My hope is that with this data, district leaders will do the right thing and form partnerships with models that are proving all kids can succeed. My hope is that one day IPS kids can attend any school and get a great and equitable education.

I am calling on IPS to partner with public charter schools or any local public school when it means delivering better educational opportunities for Indianapolis children. I believe there is no higher priority than increasing access to school programs that are working for children of color and low-income students.

If you believe this too, please sign this petition asking IPS leaders to grow the schools that are working for historically underserved students.

ADD YOUR NAME

All children are capable of amazing achievement in the classroom. It comes down to the opportunities provided by our public education system.

view the data