Alma Advisory Group’s Post

This November, one of the most crucial elections might not be making national headlines - it's for your local school board. Monica Santana Rosen's recent article highlights why these elections matter so much. Whether you live in Chicago, IL or Small Town, USA, our school boards shape the future of education in our communities. I urge you to read and share this important piece: https://lnkd.in/eEXQiDHx Let's prioritize creating positive learning environments that are equitable, inclusive, and welcoming for ALL learners. Our children's future is at stake. What qualities do you look for in a school board candidate? Let's discuss in the comments! #Education #SchoolBoardElections #InclusiveSchools #VoteForOurKids

The I Am Leandro Campaign is dedicated to empowering North Carolinian voters by providing transparency on where officials and candidates stand on public school funding. This is a pivotal time for public education in our state, with the Leandro Plan representing a $5.54 billion investment that could reshape our education system for generations. Despite a legal mandate, many elected officials remain silent on their commitment to this critical issue. To provide voters with information, we reached out to 1,225 candidates, asking for their stance on protecting the public school budget and fully implementing the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan. So far, 83 candidates have responded. By understanding where candidates stand, we can make more informed choices at the polls and hold our leaders accountable for delivering on the promise of a sound basic education for every child. I invite you to visit our website to check where your candidates stand on this important issue: https://lnkd.in/gnvfufEq. If your candidate isn't listed, please encourage them to reach out or request our survey link via email at info@communityconversationsilm.com or send me a DM. Together, we can make sure our voices are heard, that we are prioritizing the children of our state and building a brighter future for North Carolina! #IAmLeandro #LeandrovNC #NorthCarolina #CommunityConversations #PublicEducation #childadvocacy #publicschools #NCPublicSchools #publiceducation #ACES #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #Democracy #POTUS #FLOTUS #USdepartmentofeducation

At this moment when New Jersey is facing rapid and complex economic, technological, social, and climate changes, New Jersey’s 18 community colleges need expanded resources, not cuts to operating aid. Our colleges have a plan to address equity and economic prosperity, including helping all high school students get on a path to postsecondary and career success, helping our employers thrive in the global digital economy, and helping working learners, unemployed and underemployed adults, student parents, justice-impacted individuals, individual with disabilities, immigrants and refugees achieve lifelong academic and career mobility. New Jersey’s community colleges do this work with a relentless commitment to equity, accountability, and results—but our work requires adequate state funding, not budget cuts.

From developing a renewed focus on racial equity and justice to addressing COVID-related learning loss, school funding, and culture wars, the Center's Associate Director, Jonathan Collins, offers four major education policy questions that we should be asking ahead of the upcoming election season. "The K-12 American school system is being handed a policy Rubik’s Cube. It will take thoughtful planning and maneuvering to align solutions that can resolve these different quandaries. So, if education is going to play a prominent role in the election, it is our responsibility to get people talking about policy, not the politics." Read more: https://lnkd.in/e_E3sPcx

“As leaders dedicated to public education, we have seen numerous reforms come and go. Battles have been fought in classrooms, boardrooms and communities, with many education advocates always striving to build a system that serves all students equitably. Yet, despite decades of policy- and community-building efforts, a persistent structural issue remains: public education is built on a governance system that excludes those it is meant to serve. “ In this op-ed for The 74 Media, Ben Austin, Sandra Boyd, and our own Doannie Tran outline the importance of the new the National EduDemocracy Landscape Map from The Cornerstone Project - An EduDemocracy Network  #education https://rebrand.ly/cfvc7dw

What’s more, these are the same ones who are seeking to leverage their control over public education to attack diversity on all state college campuses in their states. Ten states — including Tennessee — have enacted 12 laws that ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies on college campuses.

The Project 2025 presidential administration transition agenda drafted by the Heritage Foundation and some former Trump staffers contains anti-public education directives among its sweeping anti-government changes. Project 2025 would not just weaken but abolish the Education Department, divert Title I funds that for decades have supported schools with students living in poverty, and weaken civil rights protections for marginalized groups. https://lnkd.in/g26d5aDe

Educational choices – Charter Public Schools – Educational Savings Accounts (ESA’s) – Private School funding with public dollars. Yes, none of these have been part of the national discussion leading up to the November election.  Education at its core has unfortunately become a political hotbed and everyone has an opinion, and the topic is a point of contention with many.  As someone that navigated these waters for the past 25 years, I know that there are too many adults in public education making decisions for the benefit of adults at the cost of what is best for students.  Yes, we will have a new president in January of 2025 and each of us will wake up the day after the inauguration pretty much in the same state we were the day before. Our children will return for another day of where they were the day before in their learning, and the needle on their academic program will pretty much stay the same based on what they completed and pass in another exam.  Education is a local benefit and a local element of a community’s success or failure.  We don’t need presidential candidates slamming or elevating systems or choices on the educational front.  What we do need is local leaders guiding, directing, and trying to better equip students for success.  When that is failing, it will not be the White House offering fixes or solutions.  It's easy to offer a criticism on public education and under the leadership of Bill Clinton, he touted charter public schools, and so did George Bush, Barak Obama, and Donald Trump.  It was under Joe Biden when the winds of change came, and charter public schools began to fall from grace.  It’s interesting to note that independents, republicans, and democrats all send their children to charter public schools so what is spoken in public doesn’t match personal support or individual family choices.  Party platforms, voting records, and keeping or closing the federal Department of Education are merely tired talking points.  So, this November get out and vote your conscience, get involved locally to see that your communities are stronger, and take the time to visit, get to know, and promote educational choices you know are working.  A knowledgeable electorate is a better electorate. Education Week #leadership #election #PublicEducation

To me, the most harmful aspect of the proposed cuts to Maryland's community colleges is that with all the gains we have made as a state on addressing racial disparities and leading with equity, it does the most damage to economically disadvantaged students with the greatest educational needs. With all the policy goals in mind on reducing poverty, this harms the very people who are trying the hardest to become productive Marylanders and join the middle class. Here is my commentary from The Daily Record that explains why. #MDGA24

Weakening the institutions that exist to even the playing field is a huge mistake. The research is clear - well funded institutions have improved retention rates leading to higher completion rates and a stronger workforce that bolsters local economy. I’m certainly no expert, but I believe this would put Maryland Community Colleges among the least state-supported systems in the country. This would have far reaching implications, and the impacts will be felt for decades, particularly by the most vulnerable communities. Growing up in Maryland, I’ve seen how strong the divide is between the haves and have-nots and this does nothing to alleviate those gaps. Hate to see this. #communitycollege #equityineducation #maryland