Stand For Children Leadership Center

STAND FOR CHILDREN LEADERSHIP CENTER IS A UNIQUE CATALYST FOR EDUCATION EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE, TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR US ALL.

THE CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS (CHSS) PARTNERS WITH HIGH SCHOOLS COMMITTED TO BECOMING COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL STUDENTS EXCEL ACADEMICALLY, AND RACE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS DO NOT PREDICT SUCCESS. CHSS ASSISTS PARTNER HIGH SCHOOLS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NINTH GRADERS WHO FINISH THE YEAR ON TRACK TO GRADUATE ON TIME WITH TRAINING, COACHING, COLLABORATION, DATA ANALYSIS, AND TOOLS AND RESOURCES. PROGRAM FOCUS IN 21-22 INCLUDED THE ROLLOUT OF A DETAILED ROADMAP FOR SCHOOLS AND NEW DASHBOARDS FOR ON TRACK TRACKING AND ROADMAP INVENTORY. THE 21-22 SCHOOL-YEAR EXPANSION INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, LOUISIANA, AND WASHINGTON AS SOME OF THE ORIGNAL PARTNER SCHOOLS IN OREGON GRADUATED OUT OF THE PROGRAM, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNER SCHOOLS IN 21-22 TO 143 ACROSS 50 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IN LATE 2020, FOLLOWING A SPRING AND SUMMER IN WHICH HUNDREDS OF DISTRICT LEADERS AND SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS THE NATION DECLARED THEIR COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING, STAND FOR CHILDREN LEADERSHIP CENTER ESTABLISHED THE CENTER FOR ANTIRACIST EDUCATION (CARE) TO DEVELOP THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS WERE DEMANDING AND ACHIEVE IMPACT ON A BROAD NATIONAL SCALE. IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, CARE ASSEMBLED THE RELEVANT RESEARCH AND CREATED TOOLS THAT PROVIDED NEEDED CLARITY ABOUT WHAT ANTIRACIST CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION LOOKED LIKE. THESE RESOURCES WERE LAUDED BY DISTRICT LEADERS, ACADEMICS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS. IN FY22, CARE DEVELOPED AND PILOTED A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH WELL-RECEIVED, THE PILOT DEMONSTRATED THAT TRANSFORMING MINDSET AND CHANGING BEHAVIORS REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT HUMAN SUPPORT. STAND DETERMINED A SELF-GUIDED ONLINE COURSE SCALABLE NATIONALLY WOULD NOT MEET THE ORGANIZATION'S HIGH BAR FOR QUALITY. MEANWHILE, A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HALTED EQUITY AND INCLUSION EFFORTS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION AND, IN SOME PLACES, PUT ANTIRACIST EDUCATORS' SAFETY AND JOBS IN JEOPARDY. THAT, COMBINED WITH TWO PANDEMIC SCHOOL YEARS AND TEACHER SHORTAGES, LEFT DISTRICTS STRUGGLING AND RELUCTANT TO ADD ANYTHING NEW. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS RESULTED IN STAND'S DECISION TO DISCONTINUE CARE AT THE CLOSE OF FY22.

IN ILLINOIS, STAND HELPED SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS BY BRINGING THE TEACH KINDNESS PROGRAM TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE, PROVIDING THEM WITH HIGH-QUALITY SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CONTENT DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS TO PRACTICE KINDNESS. STAND IL ALSO PROVIDED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT, INCLUDING COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT (CAF) COACHING, PARENT/TEACH HOME VISIT SUPPORT, A LITERACY RETREAT AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILY IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. THE ILLINOIS PROGRAM ALSO COLLABORATED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO SURVEY OVER 1,000 TEACHERS, COLLEGE PROFESSORS, ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS TO SOLICIT AND AMPLIFY THEIR FEEDBACK ON DUAL CREDIT COURSEWORK.

STAND FOR CHILDREN LEADERSHIP CENTER OPERATED IN EIGHT ADDITIONAL STATES IN FY22, ARIZONA, COLORADO, INDIANA, LOUISIANA, OREGON, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON AND PROVIDED SERVICES THROUGH THE NATIONAL OFFICES.