Ohio PTA POSITION STATEMENT TO ADVANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN OHIO SCHOOLS

 

The Board of Directors of the Ohio Parents and Teachers Association (Ohio PTA) met in a regular board meeting on the 19th day of June 2021 and approved the following.

 

 

POSITION STATEMENT TO ADVANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY,

AND INCLUSION IN OHIO SCHOOLS

 

 

WHEREAS, in 1970, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers came together as one association because they understood the power of unity in our efforts. In the spirit of that unity, let us come together at all levels—national, state, and local—to examine our policies, procedures, and programs and eliminate any practices that disenfranchise or discourage Black and Brown families. We must look within ourselves and then call upon all other institutions to do the same if we are to end the practices that so adversely affect our children; and

 

WHEREAS the National PTA recognizes that African Americans have suffered from institutional racism for over 400 years. While civil rights legislation and grassroots advocacy have created progress, recent events compel us to recognize additional work is needed. As a nation born out of a need to be liberated and free to live out our true creed, we must acknowledge that racism is a learned behavior; and

 

WHEREAS the Ohio PTA will continue to recommend, initiate, and support legislation and appropriation for public schools to ensure all children and youth in Ohio a high-quality education. Recognizing that quality education for children is directly related to the effectiveness and efficiency of school personnel, the Ohio PTA will recommend, initiate, and support legislation and appropriations to encourage, recognize and provide incentives for school personnel that will improve and benefits the education of all children and youth in Ohio. The Ohio PTA recognizes no educational system can be of the highest quality without the support, involvement, and cooperation of parents and the community; and

 

WHEREAS The Ohio PTA will continue to support legislation and appropriations, which safeguard and relate to the health of children and youth. Support should be given for improvement of community programs and facilities, which provide maximum protection from moral, emotional, and physical hazards for children and youth, and which strengthen home and family life; and

 

WHEREAS the 1991 Ohio PTA convention delegates adopted a resolution to address African American male students to develop and support efforts to facilitate a solution to the crisis affecting this socially disadvantaged population; and

 

WHEREAS the Ohio PTA believes ALL schools must be firmly grounded in the principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion, anti-discrimination, anti-racism, anti-hate, multiculturalism, and cultural proficiency. ALL educators must prioritize ALL students' social-emotional well-being and diverse academic needs. ALL administrators must provide an immediate safe, non-hostile, nurturing environment where ALL students can thrive and realize their full potential.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ohio PTA Board of Directors wholeheartedly supports approaches to education that embed diverse perspectives, cultures, and identities into curriculum and discussions; value truth, facts, science, and research; foster critical thinking and independent thought; prioritize root cause analysis; examine complete, accurate accounts of history and modern events; scrutinize governments, institutions, and power structures; study inclusive canons of literature; encourage ALL students to engage in STEAM, and challenge ALL students to go beyond their borders to seek out truth and perspective; be it further

 

RESOLVED that the Ohio PTA strongly supports the Ohio Board of Education's July 2020 Resolution to Condemn Racism and Advance Equity and Opportunity for Black Students, Indigenous Students, and Students of Color, and local school board resolutions that comprehensively address racism, white supremacy culture, discrimination, hate, implicit bias, disparate outcomes for students of color, culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed care, and professional development; and be it further

 

RESOLVED the Ohio PTA also supports school districts and institutions that are operationalizing intentional goals, objectives, and action plans to infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion into their culture and practice; and be it further

 

RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to all Ohio state legislators, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Governor of Ohio immediately.

 

 

_________________________________________

Ana Chapman

President, Ohio PTA

https://bit.ly/3gNQb6Z

Ohio PTA 2019-2021 Term Report Celebrating Ohio PTA’s accomplishments

Ohio PTA 2019-2021 Term Report Celebrating Ohio PTA’s accomplishments

Congratulations to the 2020-21 Ohio PTA Monthly Membership Incentive Award Recipients!

 

Congratulations to the 2020-21 Ohio PTA Monthly Membership Incentive Award Recipients!

August: Get on Board

D12 - Titans Early Childhood and Forest Elementary

 

September: Welcome Back

D6 - Cherokee Elementary, C O Harrison Elementary, Colerain Middle School D10 - Phoenix Middle, Alcott Elementary, Huber Ridge Elementary

D11 - Garfield Middle

 

D12 - Orange High PTA, Berea-Midpark High, Berea-Midpark Middle, Birch Elementary, Maple Intermediate, Pine Intermediate

 

October: Super Students & Proud Parents

D4 - Bauer Elementary

 

D6 - Kilgour Elementary, Loveland Mint, Bobbie Fairfax School, Colerain Middle, John Foster Dulles Elementary, Oak Hills High, Oakdale Elementary

 

D7 - Midview Middies, Avon Lake High, Learwood Middle, Troy Intermediate, Westview Elementary

 

D10 - Somerset Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Phoenix Middle, Slate Hill Elementary, Sutter Park, Heritage Middle, Robert Frost Elementary

 

D11 - Fairview Park Middle & High, Fairview Park Early Childhood, Gilles-Sweet Elementary, Parkview Early Education, Garfield Middle

 

D12 - Orange High, Smart Start Early Childhood, Bay Village High, Normandy Elementary, Westerly Elementary, Berea-Midpark High, Berea-Midpark Middle, Big Creek Elementary, Grindstone Elementary, Birch Elementary, Forest Elementary, Maple Intermediate, Pine Intermediate, Albion Elementary, North Royalton Early Childhood, North Royalton High, North Royalton Middle, Royal View Elementary, Olmsted Falls Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls Middle, Dentzler Elementary, First Step Early Childhood, Parma High, Pleasant Valley, Shiloh Middle, Valley Forge Middle, Kensington Intermediate, Dorothy E Lewis Elementary, Strongsville High, Strongsville Middle, Whitney Elementary, Dover Intermediate, Lee Burneson Middle, Westlake Elementary

 

D13 - Nordonia High, Rushwood Elementary, Indian Trail Elementary, Copley-Fairlawn Middle, Herberich Elementary, Tallmadge Middle, Tallmadge Elementary, Revere Middle, Samuel Bissell Elementary

 

D18 - McGuffey Raiders

 

November: Staff & Community are Key

D4 - Bauer Elementary, Mark Twain, Mound Elementary

 

D6 - Ayer Elementary, Charles Siepelt Elementary, Independence Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, Williams Avenue Elementary, C O Harrison Elementary, Clarence A Struble Elementary, Colerain High, Colerain Middle, Crosby Elementary, Delhi Middle, Finneytown Elementary, Finneytown Secondary, Margaret B Rost, Montfort Heights Elementary, Northwest High, Oak Hills High, Oakdale Elementary, Pleasant Run Elementary, Rapid Run Middle, Springmyer Memorial Elementary

 

D7 - Keystone Elementary, Lorain County JVS, North Ridgeville ECLC, Eastview Elementary, Erieview Elementary, Troy Intermediate, Westview Elementary

 

D10 - Hillview Elementary, Colerain Elementary, Alton Hall Elementary, Bolton Crossing Elementary, Buckeye Woods Elementary, Darby Woods Elementary, Darbydale Elementary, East Franklin Elementary, Grove City High, Hayes Intermediate, J.C. Sommer Elementary, James A Harmon Elementary, Monterey Elementary, Norton Middle, South-Western Preschool, West Franklin Elementary, Westland High, Brookside Elementary, Colonial Hills Elementary, Evening Street Elementary, Granby Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Phoenix Middle, Sutter Park, Worthington Hills Elementary, Worthington Park Elementary, Alcott Elementary, Genoa Middle, Heritage Middle, Mark Twain Elementary, Pointview Elementary

 

D11 - Boulevard Magnet Elementary, Roxboro Elementary, Fairview Park Middle & High, Gilles-Sweet Elementary, Garfield Middle, Lakewood High, Charles F Brush High, Greenview Upper Elementary, Memorial Junior Senior High

 

D12 - Orange Elementary Community, Orange High, Solon Early Childhood, Bay Village Early Childhood, Berea- Midpark Middle, Big Creek Elementary, Grindstone Elementary, Birch Elementary, Eagles Unite, Maple Intermediate, North Olmsted Early Childhood, Albion Elementary, North Royalton Early Childhood, Royal View Elementary, Valley Vista Elementary, Falls Lenox Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls High, Olmsted Falls Middle, Green Valley Elementary, Greenbriar Middle, Hillside Middle, John Muir Elementary, Normandy High, Parma Early Childhood, Pleasant Valley Elementary, Ridge Brook Elementary, Shiloh Middle, Thoreau Park Elementary, Valley Forge High, Kensington Intermediate, Dorothy E Lewis Elementary, Orchard Middle, Parkside Elementary, Roxbury Elementary, Solon High, Solon Middle, Kinsner Elementary, Chapman Elementary, Surrarrer Elementary, Muraski Elementary, Strongsville Early Childhood, Dover Intermediate, Westlake Early Childhood, Westlake High, Westlake Elementary

 

D13 - Brimfield Elementary, Streetsboro Community, Harvey Firestone High, King Elementary, Windemere Community LC, Barberton Elementary East, Barberton High, Barberton Middle, Northfield Elementary, Rushwood Elementary, Fishcreek Elementary, Highland Elementary, Indian Trail Elementary, Kimpton Middle, Lakeview Intermediate,

Riverview Elementary, Stow-Munroe Falls High, Woodland Elementary, Green High, Green Middle, Green Primary, Arrowhead Primary School, Copley-Fairlawn High, Copley-Fairlawn Middle, Fort Island Primary, Tallmadge High, Bath Elementary, Revere Middle, Richfield Elementary, George G Dodge Intermediate, RBC & Twinsburg High, Samuel Bissell Elementary, Wilcox Primary

 

D17 - Kingsville, Bellflower Elementary, Buckeye Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, Kirtland El Jr Sr, Lake Elementary, Mentor High, Orchard Hollow Elementary, Ridge Elementary, Royalview Elementary, Shore Middle

 

D18 - Austintown Elementary, Austintown Intermediate, Boardman Center Intermediate

 

December: Awesome Alumni

D1 - Elmhurst Elementary

 

D3 - Lagonda, Greenville Elementary, Greenville Middle D4 - Bauer Elementary, Beavertown Elementary

D6 - Amelia Elementary, Jane Chance Elementary, Loveland Elementary, Loveland MINT, Bridgetown Middle, C O Harrison Elementary, Colerain Elementary, Oakdale Elementary

 

D7 - Midview Middies, Avon Lake Early Childhood, Redwood Elementary

 

D10 - High Point Elementary, John Burroughs Elementary, Whetstone High, Brookpark Middle, Central Crossing High, Franklin Woods Elementary, Galloway Ridge, Grove City High, Holt Crossing Elementary, Park Street Intermediate, Prairie Lincoln Elementary, South-Western Career Academy, Bluffsview Elementary, Kilbourne Middle, McCord Middle, Worthington Estates Elementary, Annehurst Elementary, Cherrington Elementary, Emerson Elementary Magnet, Mcvay Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary, Whittier Elementary

 

D11 - Noble Elementary, Roxboro Middle, Fairview Park Early Childhood, Parkview Early Education, Sunview Elementary

 

D12 - Grindstone Elementary, Chestnut Intermediate, Eagles Unite, Forest Elementary, Valley Vista Elementary, Olmsted Falls Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls

Intermediate, Olmsted Falls High, Renwood Elementary, Kensington Intermediate, Rocky River Early Childhood, Rocky River Middle, Rocky River High, Roxbury Elementary, Strongsville Early Learning, Chapman Elementary, Strongsville High, Westlake Elementary

 

D13 - Brunswick Early Childhood, Medina Early Childhood, Wadsworth Early Childhood, Anne T Case Elementary, Forest Hill Elementary, Robert G Hyre Middle, Schumacher CLC, Barberton Elementary West, Lincoln Elementary, Ledgeview

Elementary, Lee Eaton Elementary, Rushwood Elementary, Echo Hills Elementary, Fishcreek Elementary, Kimpton Middle, Fort Island Primary, Tallmadge Middle, Bath Elementary, Revere High

 

D17 - Fairfax Elementary, Shore Middle, Sterling Morton Elementary

 

January: Manuary January

D4 - Bauer Elementary

 

D6 - Loveland Elementary, Summit Elementary D7 - Keystone Elementary

D10 - Metro, Bolton Crossing, Finland Middle

 

D11 - Lakewood Early Childhood, Sunview Elementary

 

D12 - Brook Park Elementary, Birch Elementary, Forest Elementary, Maple Intermediate, North Royalton Middle, Falls Lenox Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls High, First Step Early Childhood, Ridge Brook Elementary, Thoreau Park Elementary, Roxbury Elementary

 

D13 - Rootstown Elementary, East Community Learning Center, Barberton Elementary East, Barberton Elementary West, Barberton Middle, Barberton High, Nordonia Middle, Woodland Elementary, Revere Middle, George G Dodge Intermediate, RBC & Twinsburg High, Wilcox Primary

D17 - Mentor High

 

D18 - Stadium Drive Elementary

 

February is for Founders

D1 - Stranahan Elementary

 

D6 - Kilgour Elementary, Loveland Elementary, Mercer Elementary, Shawnee Early Childhood, C O Harrison Elementary, Delhi Middle, Oak Hills High, DHS Global, Western Reserve Elementary

 

D7 - North Ridgeville Early Childhood

 

 

D10 - Gahanna Middle East, High Point Elementary, Heritage Middle, Cranbrook Elementary, Whetstone High, Ridgeview Middle, Brookpark Middle, Monterey Elementary, Pleasantview Middle, Worthingway Middle

 

D11 - Bedford Heskett, Fairview Park Early Childhood, Garfield Middle, Lakewood High, Roosevelt Elementary

 

D12 - Smart Start Early Childhood, Bay Village High, Bay Village Middle, Normandy Elementary, Westerly Elementary, Grindstone Elementary, Titans Early

Childhood, Eagles Unite, Royal View Elementary, Valley Vista Elementary, Olmsted Falls Early Childhood, Olmsted Falls Intermediate, Olmsted Falls High, First Step Early Childhood, Parma High, Dover Intermediate, Westlake Elementary

 

D13 - Field Middle, Streetsboro Community, Judith A Resnick, Litchfield Middle Miller-South Performing Arts Elementary, NIHF Stem High, Kimpton Middle, Stow- Munroe Falls High, Copley-Fairlawn High

 

D17 - Memorial Middle

 

 

 

Early Bird:

D6 - Cherokee Elementary, C O Harrison Elementary, Colerain Middle D10 - Phoenix Middle, Alcott Elementary, Huber Ridge Elementary D11 - Garfield Middle

D12 - Orange High, Berea-Midpark High, Berea-Midpark Middle, Birch Elementary, Maple Intermediate, Pine Intermediate

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER OPINION—WILL THE OHIO SENATE INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS? SUSIE KAESER

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER OPINION—WILL THE OHIO SENATE INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS? SUSIE KAESER

The opinion highlights the efficacy of Cupp/Patterson and reveals the inadequacies of the Senate school funding plan.

Will the Ohio Senate invest in public school students? Susie Kaeser

Posted Jun 06, 5:15 AM

By Guest Columnist, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- On June 1, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman unveiled their education funding proposal, giving the Ohio Senate just nine days to vet the plan before voting on its version of the state budget. It is a stark contrast to the Fair School Funding Plan that underwent three years of review and revision before winning overwhelming bipartisan support as part of the House budget bill.

If allowed to become law, the Senate education budget will weaken our system of public education. It will underfund the public system and make equal access to high-quality education impossible, while simultaneously increasing state spending on private, unaccountable, and unregulated education opportunities.

Lawmakers have a clear choice. The Senate proposal advances limited government and individual choice. The Fair School Funding Plan is committed to equal opportunity, the value of every individual, education as a civic purpose, and the importance of an educated citizenry to a democracy.

The Senate’s counteroffer to the Fair School Funding Plan offers bare-bones funding of the public system that serves 90% of Ohio’s students. It sets the basic investment guaranteed to public school students at $6,110, an increase of just $90, while the House version increases funding to a minimum of $7,000, based on a careful analysis of the actual cost of education.

While limiting the investment in the public system, the Senate goes all-out to expand and fund education opportunities outside of the traditional system. It increases the value of an EdChoice voucher by $1,500 and Special Education vouchers by $4,500. The plan creates tuition tax credits for private schools and for educational materials for home schoolers, expands where charter schools may be established, and increases the state’s investment in charter school facilities and programs.

The Fair School Funding Plan seeks to achieve what the Ohio Constitution wants for all of the people of the state: a high-quality public education. The state’s responsibility is to make sure that it is equally available to all students and that taxpayers in each community are treated fairly. This requires the state budget to allocate sufficient funds to public education and distribute them to school districts in a way that provides a proper balance of state and local investments.

The House-passed plan achieves fairness by linking state spending to the actual cost of education, rather than to what the legislature might want to spend, and by a careful assessment of what each community can afford to contribute to that cost. These features are absent from the Senate version.

The champions of the Senate plan try to justify their plan as being predictable and sustainable, something school districts desperately need from state funding.

Two things about the Senate option are predictable: Local districts will lack adequate state funds to meet the needs of all of their students, and local property taxes will grow. It may be sustainable for the legislature, but it isn’t for local communities that have to fill the funding void.

During Ohio Senate hearings, citizens and educators from across the state expressed their confidence in their public schools and the desperate need for an infusion of state resources. School district budgets as well as local taxpayers are stretched to the limit. A 21st-century education may be required for a thriving economy, but it is out of reach in too many places.

As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall put it in the 1974 “San Antonio v. Rodrieguez” case, “I believe the question of discrimination in educational quality must be deemed to be an objective one that looks to what the state provides its children, not to what the children are able to do with what they receive.”

What will the state of Ohio provide its children? The Fair School Funding Plan offers lawmakers a solid solution to the funding failures of the past. What they choose to do with this plan will reveal their commitment to Ohio’s success, to the value of every child, and to the Ohio Constitution.

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2021/06/will-the-ohio-senate-invest-in-public-school-students-susie-kaeser.html



The No Child Left Behind Act Has Put The Nation At Risk

Vouchers Hurt Ohio