Parents, Accountability and Closing the Education Gap

I recently had a parent ask me about what parents can do to address the education gap in schools.  Particularly, this parent was wondering what she, as a woman of color raising a student of color, could do to increase the achievement of her child and other black and brown kids.  My initial response echoed the findings of Chance Lewis (Ph.D.) and Ivory Toldson (Ph.D.) who, in their report Challenge the Status Quo, provided a list of recommendations for parents to increase the achievement of African American males.  Within this list, they noted that parents should:

1. Alert school and district leaders of unfair treatment of black males,
2. Be present at the schools,
3. Be active participants in their son’s education.  

The fact that the recommendations of Drs. Lewis and Toldson highlight the need for parents to alert school and district leaders about unfair treatment of black males points to the systemic nature of this issue. Ultimately, when we talk about raising the achievement of black males, it is not about addressing isolated incidents. There are systemic issues that must be identified and resolved.  

Research reveals that it is vital that parents and community members hold school and district leaders accountable for their students’ success.  Sadly, it is not enough to send our children to school with the expectations that they will be optimally served.  Although, I have issues with our nation’s accountability systems, I agree that accountability is key.  What is inspected is respected.  Until we arrive at a place where we have closed the education gap between students of color and the highest levels of achievement, we must be sure to advocate for our children and ensure that they are being served with the best educational experiences possible.  

Other guides and reports provide further insight into the needs from parents (i.e. involvement in policy writing, revision, and enforcement).  These reports suggest that parents educate themselves on education policy, get involved in the creation of local education plans, emphasize education at home, and collaborate with other families and community members.  If we do what we can to emphasize the importance of quality educational experiences for students of color, the research shows that these efforts will yield positive results for all children.