Black Kids Don’t Need a Handout or a Shortcut, They Just Need Schools That Work

Outrage: Black Kids Are Dumb, Poor and Incapable of Success Do y’all remember the line from “The Color Purple,” “I’m poor, I’m Black…I may even…

Embarc’s Imran Khan on Why College Isn’t the Holy Grail

Recently I sat down with Imran Khan, co-founder of Embarc, a nonprofit that partners with 18 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high schools to provide three…

The Best Way to Fight Fake News Is With Real Teaching

A couple months ago, I heard a student at my school shout “fake news!” at friends down the hallway. It’s actually a pretty common occurrence…

When Enrollment Is Declining, Let Communities Decide Next Steps for Schools

Urban school systems all over the Northeast and Midwest are facing declining enrollment and struggle with the challenge of downsizing without shortchanging students’ education. Unfortunately,…

This Chicago School Just Got $1 Million to Build a New School Serving Latino and Low-Income Students

As a toddler, Camilla Ruelas had a life-saving liver transplant. She’s now a sixth-grader at Christopher House Charter School in Chicago, with her sights set…

These 4 Tips Can Help Students Learn From Their Mistakes

When we learn to ride a bicycle, we make mistakes along the way, as we figure out the proper balance and speed needed to keep…

20 Years Ago I Started at Noble Charter Schools as a Student. Now I’m a Principal.

As the Noble Network of Charter Schools celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, I’m looking forward and back. Back, because I was a member of…

None of These Politicians Who Are Running for Office Are For Real Talking About Education

Outrage: You Want Our Vote, We Demand Your Plan I was at a community meeting the other night and an eighth-grader stood up and said,…

Black Communities Everywhere Should Be Stepping Up Like This for Our Kids and Schools

Outrage: “Whites Only” Seats The Connecticut Supreme Court made a ruling in Sheff v. O’Neill that was supposed to integrate schools. Instead, it capped the…

Their Mom Always Said They Would Go to the University of Chicago, and That’s Exactly What These Twin Sisters Did

Growing up, Olivia and Aliyah Singleton frequently heard their mother’s prediction: “You’re going to go to the University of Chicago.” “I would just shake my…