This morning I shared with our @score4schools team a bit of what I have been reflecting on over the weekend, and felt it was important to share some of that here, acknowledging that I need to be doing a lot more listening than talking.

The work to improve educational outcomes matters in advancing equity, equality, and fighting racism. Our work in #edreform needs to contribute to responding to what happened last week in MN and what has been happening in our country.

This morning, I’m thinking about how I personally can act and do more to advocate for black students in Tennessee and how I can advocate in this moment with humility.

The data on student success paints a clear picture that inequality exists right here in our own work: 3rd grade reading proficiency in TN: 44% for white students, 21% for black students; 7th grade math proficiency: 40% for white students, 17% for black students.

Percent of students with a 21 or better on ACT: 50% for white students, 22% for students of color; Postsecondary completion in TN: 32% for white students to 16% for black students. And to be clear: these outcomes are not the fault of students.

There is inequality in access to great teachers, to rigorous courses, to supports that lead to PS success, & much more. What we are doing at SCORE and as partners in #tneducation to advance equity for students who have more stacked against them is not enough. We have to do more.