New York City schools are tackling systemic racism beginning with the implementation of Culturally Responsive Education policies that include implicit bias training for teachers and administrators. But an education that respects the race and culture of every student is under attack by the right wing media, led by Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post.

In addition to these far right attacks, these policies are facing frivolous lawsuits, claiming "reverse racism," meant to undermine Department of Education Chancellor Carranza's efforts to make racial equity a priority in NYC public schools.

Many New York City schools have deep issues that need to be addressed, from teachers that do not reflect the student population, a curriculum that devalues Black experiences, and those of other students of color, harsh and unfair school discipline practices, and school push-out. The lack of proper representation of communities of color in K-8th grade English Language Arts curriculum must be addressed. 

Over the course of six years from kindergarten to 5th grade, many NYC students read more books whose cover characters are animals than books whose cover characters are Latinx, Black or Asian people. The K-8th grade English Language Arts curriculum has been shown to not reflect the cultural and ethnic richness of its students, which impacts students perceptions of self worth and quality of education throughout their lives.

Join us and Alliance For Quality Education NY (AQE) and the NYC Coalition for Education Justice (CEJ) in fighting to defend the progress we've already made and to ensure that NYC students get a more culturally responsive curriculum!

Here is the Petition:

Dear Mayor de Blasio,

New York’s school children need you now more than ever. Under your leadership, New York City schools Chancellor Richard Carranza is leading efforts for Culturally Responsive Education that are a model for schools across the country. But Chancellor Carranza is under attack by right wing media for these reforms. Most importantly, education is under attack--education that reflects and respects every child’s culture and identity. Now is the time to double down on New York City’s commitment to our children by blasting these attacks, expanding implicit bias trainings and working with Chancellor Carranza to ensure diverse school curriculum in every class, every grade, every day. Speaking out now will impact children and communities in New York City and cities across the country that are following what is happening in New York.