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Y'all know I'm a huge @JoeBiden fan, have been since middle school. Most folks know that education has an issue for me since 2007; DC has publicly litigated so much in the time since. The recent discourse around education has become more polarized. Painfully so. 1/
Working both nationally + hyper locally, I've heard and seen so much around the Ed Sec selection. Levity: I live up the street from the "shame, shame, shame" school, so 2016/17 and the fever around Rhee's consideration still stings 2/
A few lists have circulated w/ recs have floated and #iStandwithSonja trended for a while last week after a well known "public education advocate" undermined the suggestion of Baltimore City's CEO Santelises. I have Puzzle Palace thoughts, but later... 3/ https://bit.ly/2IZZVwk
The same "advocate" has floated another list. But when did the folks who made that list ask Black people? I've grown tired of folks who want to be prescriptive about communities, but have never worked with them. 4/
At a time when it is so important to unify this country and support students and families, this 11/8 @PostOpinions does the exact opposite. 5/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/11/08/what-public-education-advocates-want-see-bidens-pick-succeed-betsy-devos/
Ravitch, Burris call on the new ed sec to place a moratorium on new grants from the federal Charter Schools Program. This would ignore the Dem voters who support charters, including 58% of Black and 52% of Latinx dems who were also crucial to the Biden-Harris victory. 6/
So instead of giving families options, Ravitch and Burris would rather take them away. Instead of reading the room, Ravitch attempts to demean a highly qualified woman who has served children in the public education space for simple reasons. 7/
As a charter authorizer I know public charter schools are accountable to the gov't agency/charter authorizing body that issues its charter. Public charters are neighborhood schools that partner w communities to fight for issues that matter to families 8/ http://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/6/2/21278475/charter-schools-george-floyd-protests
This is a moment to lean on the charter promise AND highly consider candidates who reflect & truly respect the children that need learning supports. Why not collectively advocate to increase funding for all public schools - district and charter - instead of being divisive? 9/
Advocates say they want what's best for our children. As a community centered education equity advocate I know I and countless Black and Brown ed leaders, students, parents and families want the same. It's my hope @JoeBiden remembers us as he makes this decision. 10/10
