Our team is always seeking the latest news in the field of education. As advocates for a high-quality education for ALL students, we know we have to stay up-to-date on everything that’s going on in the education spheres of our nation…from the White House to the local public school district, from new legislation to the small acts of bravery and kindness made by a single teacher, from the milestones and celebrations to the hazardous injustices affecting many of our nation’s students.

Here are the stories that we’ve been talking about this week.

Inequities in Advanced Coursework via The Education Trust

Black and Latino students across the country experience inequitable access to advanced coursework opportunities. They are locked out of these opportunities early when they are denied access to gifted and talented programs in elementary school, and later in middle and high school, when they are not enrolled in eighth grade algebra and not given the chance to participate in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment programs. As a result, these students are missing out on critical opportunities that can set them up for success in college and careers.

‘I Feel That I’m Needed’: An Effort to Keep Male Teachers of Color in the Classroom via KQED

“What scares me is getting a job at an elementary school where I don’t have a mentor who shows me the ropes, where administration and teachers are not on the same page,” Fabian Flores says. “What scares me is not having the resources other schools in richer communities have.”

He has reason to worry. Flores’s mentor teacher, Los Angeles Unified’s Darryl McKellar, has seen a lot of new teachers come and go in his two decades on the job. “Especially young black, young brown teachers don’t choose to stay because they don’t feel supported,” McKellar says.

Real New Year’s Resolutions From a Black Female Educator via Citizen Education

I was raised by strict parents who expected us to be intrinsically motivated. When I told my parents about my friends receiving money for good grades, I was told, “Why should we pay you for doing what is expected?” It’s funny how systems from your childhood follow you into adulthood. As an administrator, I believe we should not have to jump through hoops to motivate teachers to do what is expected; however, I can show my appreciation and gratitude. I’m going to commit to this next year.

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One thing to read this weekend

The made-up crisis behind the state takeover of Houston’s public schools via The Conversation

While state takeovers don’t deliver promised results, they do have significant negative political and economic consequences for communities, which overwhelmingly are communities of color. These negative consequences often include the removal of locally elected school boards. They also involve decreases in teachers and staff and the loss of local control of schools.

Despite the highly problematic history of state takeovers, states have justified the takeovers on the grounds that the entire school district is in need of improvement. However, this is not the case for the Houston takeover because by the state’s own standards, the Houston school system is not failing.

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Did any of these articles particularly speak to you? We would love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below: