Jamal, a 10-year-old with autism, dreams of becoming a biologist. His intelligence and friendly demeanor designed to impress teachers and students was infectious.
Jamal attending a new school was very excited to learn and grow. But lately, his once sparkling eyes and smile have dulled him to the point of sadness and fear about going to school.
Jamal is mainstreamed for science as outlined by his IEP into a classroom where he faces misunderstanding from his teacher despite his parents advocating for tailored learning methods that have worked in the past. The teacher’s indifference and refusal to provide even simple accommodations create suspicion that Jamal is unwelcome in the classroom. His continued marginalization fosters an atmosphere of bullying. Despite pleas from his parents, school leaders remain unresponsive, pushing Jamal to respond to his tormentors in misunderstood ways, escalating conflict.
Compounding Jamal’s ordeal is the intersectionality of his identity: a Black child with autism facing racial and disability biases. Alone in a society that prioritizes punishment over support Jamal is silenced and his spirit is crushed.
Jamal’s narrative is just one among many heartbreaking stories that resonated during the Black Parallel School Board’s (BPSB) 2018 parent listening session revealing unequivocally that Black children were routinely ensnared in the shortcomings of special education programming and decision making. Furthermore, a 2017 Council of the Great Cities School Report delineated 42 critical recommendations aimed at rectifying persistent issues with the district’s special education program.
Recently, the legal team representing the BPSB reached a settlement with the school district resolving a 2019 lawsuit. Presently, both parties are diligently collaborating to integrate programs, activities, and metrics into a 5-year plan for improvement. At long last, the amalgamation of the 42 recommendations and the poignant testimonies gathered during the listening sessions holds the promise of delivering effective solutions to rectify the severe challenges that children in general and Black children in particular have had to endure persistently.
The BPSB, established in 2008, is committed to working tirelessly with parents and students to empower them through an education justice lens that provides resources, training, and advocacy to help communities overcome educational obstacles. Presently, Black children are the lowest performing group in California. To move this group of students up the success ladder, BPSB believes an unapologetic focus and advocacy for Black children is necessary. More importantly the BPSB believes that if they can improve the performance of Black children they can improve the circumstances of all underperforming students regardless of race, creed, or color.
The Black Parallel School Board (BPSB) mobilizes, organizes, and recruits parents to take an active role in the educational lives of their children. They provide support and training to parents and the community to expand their power in creating systemic change to reverse the negative educational outcomes for their children. Through active participation, parents advocate for equitable instructional programs, activities, and resources to ensure that their children graduate with the greatest possibilities for future success.
Parent training and support are just a few of the activities and programs offered by BPSB. The future needs of the organization are as follows:
A. Expand organizational funding to provide sufficient resources for both programs and activities:
- Continue to support, empower and assist parents to ensure a quality education in a safe and nurturing learning environment in all Sacramento school districts.
- Developing a Reading Initiative to ensure that all students are at appropriate reading levels by grade 6.
- Participate in a statewide collaborative to set State policy to ensure equitable student outcomes are the norm for students of color- particularly for Black children.
- Promote the BPSB School Safety Reimagine Plan to ensure safe schools for all students.
- Assist and support the development of a 5-year Plan to improve special education services for students with IEP’s and/or 504 as part of the legal settlement with BPSB.
- Hosts community events that align with school district programs and activities
- Expand organizational services to Black students who identify as LGBTQ+ and their families.
- Provide school district staff and community members with Restorative Practices, Race, Equity and Human Relations training as part of a summer institute.
- Expand the number of CA BPSB affiliates and develop a conference to learn and grow the BPSB brand.
- Continue to sponsor annual events such as the Million Father March to start the school year; Parent Involvement Day during Black History Month; and the development of an annual Parent Resource Guide and Monthly Newsletters.