No, But Seriously, How Are the Children?

Last week I made what I thought was a simple request: for all of us to prioritize the question “how are the children?” as if…

Charter Schools Must Be Part of the Solution for Desegregation

America is more diverse than it’s ever been, as are the students attending public schools, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at individual schools.…

‘I Want to Talk About Better Academic and Life Outcomes for Black and Brown Kids. Period.’

If we have really well-prepared young people who are going to the exact college they want to go to, who will graduate from college within…

My Kid Had Tons of Background Knowledge, But He Couldn’t Read Without Learning Phonics

When our son was born, my husband and I knew a lot about how to prepare him to be a reader. We knew how to…

The Discomfort of White Adults Should Never Take Priority Over the Success of Our Black and Brown Students

“I didn’t come here to teach those kinds of kids.” It’s alarming to think that adults charged with helping students of color succeed in school…

Do We Have to Call in the National Guard to Protect the Civil Rights of Students With Disabilities?

The question must be asked: What do we have to do to get school districts to follow the law and give students who are disabled…

3 Things You May Not Know About Charter Schools

Recently, when I announced the release of my newest book on charter schools, a woman I know from the gym wrote me: “So sorry, Sarah—but…

Mashea Ashton Talks Newark, Cory Booker and the Challenges of Launching Her Own School

Mashea Ashton tells the truth, even when it’s hard. Almost three years ago, when she moved to Washington, D.C., to be closer to family, she…

DeVos Will Recommend the Removal of Civil Rights Protections for Students of Color

Any day now we’re going to hear the news that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration are removing guidance meant to reduce…

I’m an Immigrant and a Student and My Voice Matters

When I was about 7 years old, I immigrated to the United States from Mexico. It was 2008 and I arrived in New York City…