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Local groups push for education equity in public schools

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Several organizations in Indianapolis work to ensure local students receive a quality education regardless of their socioeconomic background.

These education advocacy groups, Indianapolis Public Schools Community Coalition (IPSCC), EmpowerED Families and R.I.S.E., encourage parent and community involvement and academic proficiency. The organizations also aim for experienced teachers who are representative of the student body.

L-R: Aries, Hope and Ashton pose for a picture on the way to school. (Photo provided by Ashley Thomas)

IPSCC, a nonprofit comprised of volunteer parents and community members, was established seven years ago. IPSCC members support the progress of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) by creating political campaigns in favor of public schools, supporting the community-school model and educating on underlying issues and agendas involving education. Members are motivated by what they see as a failure to address and invest in minority and disabled students, those who teach them and the communities they live in.  

“Racial inequity is alive today,” Jim Scheurich, president of IPSCC, said. “So, society must be active in the community because that is what brings about economic equality and social justice.”

EmpowerED Families, a nonprofit that launched in July 2021, aims to strengthen families by weaving together the home, school and community. Officials of the organization work with parents and community members to improve life skills coaching for disabled students, push for an increase in public school funding as well as racial and education equity. EmpowerED Families does not focus on one specific district or group of students. 

“We are not a bounded or boundary organization,” Ontay Johnson, executive director, said. “We are not confined. We advocate wherever there is a challenge or need.”

R.I.S.E Indy, also a nonprofit, differs from EmpowerED Families because it can get politically involved and lobby. R.I.S.E., an acronym for Raising Indianapolis Schools to Excellence, was founded with the belief that education is the most significant social issue. 

“How can we have more control over education through politics and elections?” asks Jasmin Shaheed-Young, CEO of R.I.S.E. This question drives the mission of the organization, and the focus is on policy change, reforms in school board elections and lobbying and training community leaders to become educationally advanced.

Parents involved in R.I.S.E. learn how to influence education policy at the Statehouse and on the school board.

“Parents have continued to become more knowledgeable through R.I.S.E and other groups alike. By supporting parents and representative community in positions of power, we assist them in staying in those positions,” parent of three and Senior Director of Community Impact and Organizing Ashley Thomas said. 

Members of these groups spoke out against House Bill 1134, an education bill that sought to prohibit a school from teaching certain concepts about race and ethnicity and discouraged teachers from discussing topics that could make a certain demographic of students feel discomfort or guilt for any reason, during the most recent legislative session. The bill eventually failed to pass in the Indiana Senate.

“Our job as parents and community members is to become aware of the resources that will help us and implement them,” Christina Smith, parent of two IPS students and co-founder of IPSCC, said. “Start where you are comfortable, however that looks. In the end, there is power in numbers; the more support the better.”

Contact staff writer Malashia Pringle at 317-924-5143 or email at malashiap@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @MalashiaAp.

Correction: Jasmin Shaheed-Young’s name was misspelled in an earlier version.

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