Monthly Digest with Coalition Updates, Must-Read News, and Upcoming Events
Dear Coalition Members,
Responses are in from our 2018 Membership Survey and, resoundingly, they show that Coalition schools want the chance to “network with and learn from other diverse by design Coalition member schools” (more on the survey below). Accordingly, we gathered our California members for a fun lunch during the 25th Annual California CharterSchools Conference. We carved out time away from the hecticness of the school day to chat over giant pretzels and shared fries. And as a true testament of your passion and commitment, the conversations dove right into the challenges of enrolling diverse student populations, the highs and lows of charter growth, and strategies to build stronger and more inclusive school communities.
Additionally, at the end of March, we hosted a call on school safety, in response to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Coming out of the call, we are asking schools to share their school safety protocols and relevant materials in the school safety materials/resource share. Finally, thanks to Brooklyn Prospect’s Ashley Platt for sharing her thoughts and resources.
We hope to keep the momentum going. Have questions or thoughts to share on this topic or others? Post on our members-only Facebook group.
On a final note, thank you to Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, Baltimore Montessori, Brooklyn Prospect, Hebrew Public, Hellenic Classical, Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS, and Valor Collegiate Academies for your generous pledges in support of the Coalition. We are one step closer to reaching our $350,000 match goal from the Walton Family Foundation. Make your pledge today or reach out to me directly with any questions.
Sincerely,
Sonia C. Park
Coalition Updates
School Launch Program Kickoff & Mid-Atlantic Regional Convening
Join us for DCSC’s School Launch Program Kickoff, run concurrently with its first Mid-Atlantic Regional Convening, July 25th – 26th in Washington D.C.
- School Launch Program Kickoff, Fellowship is by invitation only. We look forward to welcoming our inaugural class of fellows, their mentors, and partners to Kickoff.
- School Launch Program Kickoff, Explore Series is open to any aspiring leader interested in exploring what it takes to launch the next excellent, diverse by design school. Registration is $150 and the Explorer should secure her/his own lodging andtransportation. However, limited scholarships are available and the priority deadline for scholarship applications is May 10.
- Regional Convening: Mid-Atlantic Region is a time for DCSC schools in the Mid-Atlantic region to come together and learn from each other as neighbors and peers. Schools in the Mid-Atlantic region, listed below, are invited to participate at no cost (DCSC will cover lodging and transportation for those outside D.C):
- Baltimore Montessori
- City Neighbors Schools
- Capital City Public Charter School
- E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
- Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School
- Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School
- Lee Montessori Public Charter School
- Washington Latin Public Charter School
DCSC schools outside of the Mid-Atlantic Region may also attend and are responsible for paying the $150 registration fee and securing their own lodging and transportation.
Finally, space at the Regional Convening is limited to two staff members per school.
Priority deadline for registering to the School Launch Program and/or Regional Convening is May 10. Questions? Reach out to Ashley Heard.
DCSC 2018 Membership Interest Survey
The 2018 Membership Survey is live! Congratulations to Citizens of the World, winner of our $50 DonorsChoose gift card for completing the survey by April 11th! It’s not too late to give us feedback so we can better understand your school’s interests and develop programming that meets your needs. We are collecting at least one response per member school and we want to hear from all of you! Complete the survey here (LINK).
Celebrating National Charter Schools Week
May 7th to May 11th is #CharterSchoolsWeek. Charter schools across the nation will be sharing the impact their schools are making. Join the movement and tag @DiverseCharters to show the impact of diversity, integration, and inclusion!
From the Field: The Charter Impact Fund
Walton Family Foundation is challenging funding inequities between traditional and alternative public school through the Charter Impact Fund, which will launch with $200 million in seed funding and provide long-term, fixed-rate loans—similar to a home mortgage—to high-performing charter schools seeking permanent financing for facility acquisitions or refinancing existing debt. For more information, click here.
Upcoming Conferences & Events
New Schools Venture Fund Summit
May 8th to May 9th in Burlingame, California
Learn more here
NewSchools Summit is an annual invitation-only gathering for education innovation thought leaders who bring important and diverse perspectives in PreK-12 education. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, funders, and policymakers come together to share ideas on how we can reimagine schools so they prepare all students, from every background, to achieve their most ambitious dreams.
The Atlantic Education Summit
May 1st in Washington, D.C.
Register here
The fourth annual Education Summit will examine the state, local and federal policy ideas that could influence school success and safety; the mechanics of teaching and learning in classrooms; and the state of equity and access in education today.
71st EWA National Seminar
May 16th to May 18th in Los Angeles, CA
More info here
EWA’s National Seminar is the largest annual gathering of journalists on the education beat. This multi-day conference provides participants with top-notch training delivered through dozens of interactive sessions on covering education from early childhood through graduate school. Featuring prominent speakers, engaging campus visits, and plentiful networking opportunities, this must-attend conference provides participants with a deeper understanding of the latest developments in education, a lengthy list of story ideas, and a toolbox of sharpened journalistic skills.
UnidosUS Annual Conference
July 7th to July 10th in Washington, D.C.
More info here
This conference is the largest gathering of its kind in the Hispanic community, serving as the meeting ground for thousands of community leaders, activists, and volunteers; elected andappointed officials; members of the corporate, philanthropic, and academic communities; senior citizens; college students; and youth.
News Roundup
“Trump Judicial Nominee Won’t Say If She Supports Brown v. Board of Education” by Mahita Gajanan
Time — April 12, 2018
“Resistance to school integration in the name of ‘local control’: 5 questions answered” by AP
WTOP — April 12, 2018
“It’s Been 64 Years and We’re Still Working to Desegregate Schools” by Casey M. Bethel
Education Post — April 4, 2018
“Why we need both a national apology and reparations to heal the wounds of racism” by Marianne Williamson
The Washington Post — April 4, 2018
“Charter Schools and the Resegregation of North Carolina Schools” by Jeffery C. Billman
Indy Week — March 19, 2018
“School Segregation Is Not a Myth” by Will Stancil
The Atlantic — March 14, 2018
“50 Years After Kerner Commission, Education Still Seen as a Lever” by Sarah D. Sparks
EdWeek — February 27, 2018
“Integrating Schools in San Antonio: Start With One. An Interview with Mohammed Choudhury” by Alice Opalka and Georgia Haywalk
CRPE — February 23, 2018
“How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation” by Rocio Lorenzo, Nicole Voight, Miki Tsusaka, Matt Krentz, Katie Abouzahr
BCG — January 23, 2018
