For leaders with stewardship over children:

1. Call the city together to understand the issue:

Convene school and city leaders, teachers and parents to identify where the greatest challenges are, what’s been tried in the past, what’s never been tried, and why the educational realities of black and brown students are so far removed from the cherished ideals of your city.

2. Make better plans; set short timelines:

If you’re trying the same tired initiatives that haven’t worked before, you’re not serious about helping black and brown kids. Take a political risk on behalf of the families who need you most. Reach out beyond your typical networks. Bring in well-researched ideas and innovators to make informed bets on what can help students in your city. Work with your communities to develop and commit to a city-wide strategic plan that outlines specific, measurable goals. And set a timeline that will expire before you leave your position. Accountability matters.

3. Share better information:

Information matters to parents and anyone else who cares about results. Most parents in most cities either get misleading information about their child’s progress or information that’s so complex or out of context that it’s rendered useless. Develop a way of making school information more accessible and easy to understand for the communities you serve.

For parents, advocates and others:

1. Spread the word:

Create a sense of urgency in your community. Start conversations with your friends and family on the need to hold leaders accountable and close achievement gaps. Raise awareness of how the failures of the current educational system in your city fails to live up to your own values for meeting the needs of every child.

2. Demand a plan:

Ensure your city’s leaders gather community input to create a plan that can be measured against results. Sign a petition for your city leaders to create a plan to help all children succeed in school, or get involved in any number of our other action opportunities on this site.

3. Make your voice heard in the halls of power:

Reach out on your own to political leaders, from the mayor to the school board. Show up at public meetings about education. Tell them how you feel about the achievement gaps in your city and offer to help. In the end, it’s up to each of us to tell our leaders this matters and to hold them accountable to close these gaps.