Why I Gave My Son Permission to Drop Out of High School

We see a child in a maple treeWe’re watching him climb,You and I.You say, “Come down,You’ll hurt yourself!”I say, “Go upYou’re touching the sky!” –…

‘Black Boys’ Can Help You Reach African American Males in Your Classroom

The week that it was Black History Month, I grabbed two assignments. One from a district that was serving mostly white kids, and they were…

Kids Need to Write More. A Lot More.

Growing up with teachers for parents, my siblings and I were taught that writing is an indispensable skill. We attended rigorous schools and enrichment programs…

Dual-Enrollment Helped Me Prepare for My Future

My decision to participate in Minnesota’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program has been the most defining aspect of my high school experience. A full-time PSEO…

Dual-Credit Classes Opened Up a Whole New World for Me

As I went through high school, I became increasingly aware that I needed to take advantage of the time, as it was the beginning of…

XQ+RI Schools Rise to the Challenge of Distance Learning and Hope to Inspire a State

Before the COVID-19 pandemic came into full view, the voice of Angélica Infante-Green, the Rhode Island Education Commissioner, bounced off the marble walls of the…

5 Tips for Seniors Trying to Figure Out What’s Next

Put yourself in the shoes of a graduating high school senior. 2020 was supposed to be filled with the best “lasts” and “firsts.” Getting ready…

COVID-19 School Closures Shine a Light on the Disparities That Exist for First-Gen and Low-Income Students

With the imminent threat of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), colleges across the country shut their doors to over 100,000 students. Many students returned home, but many students—mostly…

My Family Didn’t Think We’d Choose a Charter School But It Turned Out to Be an Amazing Experience

I never thought I would attend a charter school until my mother decided to enroll me into YES Prep Public Schools in Houston. At the…

I Will Never Again Teach at a School Without Dedicated Mentoring Time for Students

For many educators, January is a time to return to our jobs revived and renewed after the holiday season. For teachers at Rhodes Junior High…