Category: Access to High Quality Schools

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.

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.

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

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.

Watch what I asked IPS leaders:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Over two years ago, I posted this video. In it, I talk about the opportunity gap in IPS and why I want to see more just and equitable schools. Since then, two of my children have started attending one of the schools in our city that is doing a much better job of closing the opportunity gap. My understanding of how important it is to close the gap has only grown.

Last night, I spoke to IPS leaders at the Action Session. I requested they share data about the schools that close the opportunity gap in October. Watch my video from last night here.

Today, I also want them to do something about it. I want them to feel what I feel when I see that only 5.4% of Black students in IPS passed both section of the ILEARN and allow that heartbreak to push them to grow schools that are working for children of color and low-income students.

Please join me in asking IPS leaders to grow schools that work and close the opportunity gaps we’ve experienced for decades now by adding your name to this petition.

Too many kids are failing and too many kids aren’t getting an equitable shot at success. I will no longer accept the status quo because our kids deserve more. Our kids not getting a great education affects our whole community.

I know IPS leaders care, but we need them to act in the best interest of Indianapolis kids and grow data-proven schools. If you agree, please add your name to this petition today. Our kids can’t wait.

At the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Action Session, I asked district leaders to transparently share the data that highlights public schools in IPS boundaries that close the opportunity gap, regardless of school type.

I want them to share this data in October because I know that we can partner together and learn from this data. It is so important for us to not only look at the schools that are equitably educating Black and Brown students, but for us to do something about it.

Watch my remarks here:

Last night, I spoke at the IPS board meeting. During this meeting, I requested IPS leaders share data about schools in our city, not all of which are IPS schools (but all are public schools), that are doing a much better job of closing the opportunity gap. I also asked them to take action and create a plan to partner and grow schools that are seeing much better outcomes for Black and Brown students.  

Watch my speech to the IPS board here:

View data about the opportunity gap in our city here:

This is not the first time I have asked IPS leaders to close the opportunity gap. For years, parents like me have been asking IPS leaders to use data to drive decisions that can help grow schools that working for Black and Brown children. If this data tugs at your heart, please join me in being a part of the solution. The more people who sign the petition, the more likely IPS leaders will act.  

In September I spoke to the IPS board to tell them about the importance of replication and closing the opportunity gap for Black and Brown students. IPS students today are not getting the quality education they deserve. Data tells us which schools are getting results and which are not.  

So, it is reasonable to say, we can’t replicate just any school. Replication should be used for the schools that are getting results for ALL students, schools that prove they close the opportunity gap.   

While it is NOT included in IPS’ “Rebuilding Stronger” plan, I believe replicating Paramount is vital because data shows that they are effectively closing the opportunity gap for Black and Brown students three times more than other schools in the city.  

The plan IPS released on September 13 does not include partnering with data-proven schools like Paramount.  

As a grandparent who has joined many other parents at the IPS podium for months calling for growing schools that work for children of color, I am very disappointed. I don’t feel like parents – especially Black and Brown parents – are being listened to when it comes to this plan.  

Instead of our suggestions, the plan calls for more CFI schools being added to the district when data shows they have among the largest opportunity gaps in the state of Indiana for Black and Brown students.  

These schools may be in high-demand with some families, but I’d like to know where is the evidence that parents of color are asking for more CFI schools?   

It is imperative that the board takes a deeper dive into the Rebuilding Stronger plan to ensure there will be more equitable school options for our children and grandchildren.  

I hope you’ll stand with me and ask IPS leaders to halt the vote on the Rebuilding Stronger plan until changes are made.