Have you ever felt frustrated by the school options in predominantly black communities? I recently read that children attending school in the wealthiest districts are four grades ahead of children in the poorest districts.
Somehow I think we’ve always known this, but it’s another thing to read it so baldly in the New York Times.
There are things we can do to shore up educational opportunities in communities of color and in low-income schools. The National Black Child Development Institute has instituted National Black Child Development Week, May 16—21. Themed “A Week of Action,†educators, advocates, professionals, parents, and caregivers will join together to empower and mobilize families and communities.
NBCDW’s intent is to raise awareness around the need for early learning centers and schools to provide wrap-around support services that benefit the whole child; provide parents and caregivers with the tools to champion educational equity; engage with thought leaders on the preschool to prison pipeline; and highlight activities that promote healthy brain development.
The #NBCDIWeekofAction offers several opportunities to get involved in the action:
- Monday, May 16: Social Media for Social Change Twitter Chat —Â Follow the conversation at #NBCDIWholeSchoolWholeChild
- Tuesday, May 17: Building Brains for Early Success encourages parents to turn everyday moments into brain-building opportunities.
- Wednesday, May 18, 9:30—2:30 EST: Parent Power Boot Camp: Let’s Get In-Formation informs parents about the Every Student Succeeds Act. Tune into the live stream or follow #NBCDIParentPower on Twitter.
- Thursday, May 19: Stop the Madness: Purging the Preschool to Prison Pipeline addresses the issue of disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of black children.
- Friday, May 20: Armed and Dangerous: Strengthening Black Communities with an Arsenal of Knowledge, Tools, and Skills — Connect with events at your local BCDI chapter (find one here.)
- Saturday, May 21: Celebrating Educational Excellence — at your local BCDI chapter.
NBCDW is organized by the National Black Child Development Institute. Partners for the week include the U.S. Department of Education, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, Vroom, The Education Trust, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
For 46 years, the National Black Child Development Institute–in partnership with its National Affiliate Network–has worked to ensure that black children and their families have access to high equality early care, equitable education, and culturally relevant resources, supports, and curriculum. Learn more at www.nbcdi.org.