I just got back from an incredible conference in New Orleans – the Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum. It was absolutely wonderful to meet so many practitioners who are finding ways (despite NCLB) to stay true to what is good for children. In the current political climate, this is no small feat!
I’ll write more about the conference in the upcoming weeks, but right now I really need to go play with my 5 year-old sons! In the meantime…check out The Forum for Education & Democracy, “a national education ‘action tank’ committed to the public, democratic role of public education – the preparation of engaged and thoughtful democratic citizens.”
The fourteen original conveners, some of whom spoke at the Fall Forum, are working to level the playing field. In her opening remarks, Gloria Ladson-Billings re-framed the question of how to close the “achievement gap”. She believes in finding ways our country can compensate for the massive “education debt”. The responsibility falls on all of us to work at redistributing resources. Did you know that urban districts spend about $10,000 less per student (per year) than other districts?Check out The Forum for Education & Democracy site for powerful information and ways to get involved.