We're Still Leaving Kids Behind

Editor's Note

We’ve made progress in the years since No Child Left Behind was passed, but the racial equity gap in education still exists — and COVID threatens to widen it.

A Lifetime of Fighting for Education for All

Virginia Walden Ford

Thrust onto the front lines of the desegregation battles of the 1960s as a teenager, Virginia Walden Ford took the lessons she learned early in life and carried them to decades of impact in the U.S. education system.

A Revolution in Expectations

Dr. Michael L. Lomax

In his 50 years as an educator, Dr. Michael Lomax has witnessed expectations — and results — increase for Black, Latino, and low-income students. And while No Child Left Behind served as a catalyst for these expectations, we still have work to do.

Data is Essential to Improve Student Outcomes

Holly Kuzmich

While it’s important that we tend to the immediate needs of our students and focus on how to reopen schools safely, we can’t lose track of the need to improve our national education performance.

#HowAreTheKids: Keeping an Eye on the Big Picture in Education

Chris Stewart

School boards, parents, and policymakers all want the same outcome: healthy, well-prepared, well-adjusted children in our community. As debate continues and evolves around educational topics, Stewart reminds us to stay focused on children.

Education, Equity, and Opportunity: Unlocking Everyone's Potential

Derrell Bradford

For decades, our educational systems have faced the same systemic inequities seen in other areas of society. Education policy — from school choice to funding to assessments — can help unlock access to opportunity for all.

Aggressive Action and Leadership Necessary to Keep Kids from Falling Behind

Keri Rodrigues

Once an advisor to the late Senator Edward Kennedy on education issues, Keri Rodrigues remains passionate about stopping systemic injustice from being passed from one generation to another.

On the Edge of First-Generation Student Breakthrough, COVID Threatens Progress

Richard Whitmire

Careful studying of data has helped some school systems find ways to improve first-generation and low-income students’ chances of success in college. But the COVID crisis is putting these groups at particular risk of losing that progress.

How Educators Can Prime First-Generation College Students for Success

Melva Williams

Entering college is only half the battle for first-generation college students — higher education leaders must partner in the success of students new to the system.

Giving Parents a Voice

Sharlonda Buckman

Navigating the educational system isn’t always smooth sailing — but engaged, passionate parents are critical to a child’s success.

The Power of Working Together to Achieve Systemic Change in Education

Jamila Thomas

Jamila Thomas successfully turned an initiative to increase academic achievement for Black students to an institutional program adopted statewide in Texas. But that win is only a first step in bringing equity to students.