Demand the Freedom to Learn

Take Action

Certain politicians continue to deny students the resources they need for a high-quality education. They purposefully mischaracterize these students—whether they are Black, brown or white; Native or newcomer; Asian; LGBTQ+; or differently abled—and stoke fears about what's being taught in schools, from kindergarten through college.

These dog-whistle strategies are being used to dictate what teachers and faculty can and can't say, to ban books, and to block students from learning our shared stories of confronting injustice. All the while, decision makers hope that parents, educators, and students will be too distracted and divided to notice their failure to give students what they need to thrive.

We are joining together to demand that our schools and institutions be given the resources they need to meet every student’s needs—including well-trained and -supported educators—and that educators be allowed to teach honest, accurate curricula that impart the critical thinking skills students need to reckon with the past and shape the future. 

We demand that:

1. Every student be provided opportunities to cultivate creativity and critical thinking

Parents, students, and educators will hold lawmakers accountable for guaranteeing the right of our students to learn—and our expert educators to teach—an inclusive curriculum that covers our country’s whole history. We must encourage students to think critically and develop their own views and voice, and prepare them with the skills they need for the future.

We can do this by:

Supporting culturally responsive education that centers students’ diverse histories, cultures, families, and communities, allowing students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, have strong relationships with their educators, and understand the world in which they live;

Supporting the study of the social, political, economic, and historical perspectives of our nation’s diverse racial and ethnic groups, which helps foster cross-cultural understanding and aids students in valuing their own cultural identity while appreciating the differences around them;
Ensuring state content standards and district curriculum reflect a true history of this country and the world we live in; and
Creating and implementing Black Studies and Ethnic Studies courses in our public schools, colleges, and universities.

2. Our schools be places where every student has the freedom to be themself, belong, and thrive

Parents and educators will hold decision makers accountable for ensuring schools are safe, welcoming, and effective, and that every student receives an education that prepares them to thrive in a diverse and interdependent world—regardless of their race, gender, ZIP code, language, country of origin, religion, sexual identity or orientation, ability, or income.

We can do this by:

Ensuring that decision makers protect students’ right to a public education free of discrimination, harassment, and bullying, whether they are Black, brown, or white; Native or newcomer; Asian; differently abled; or LGBTQ+;

Supporting, reviewing, and revising policies, programs, educational materials, teaching approaches, and resources to ensure access and opportunity for every student across, race, place, and ability;
Ensuring that every student need look no farther than the shelves of their school or campus libraries to find age-appropriate books that reflect and respect them;
Meeting students where they are—academically, emotionally, and physically—by implementing trauma-informed and restorative justice practices in schools and on campuses:
Reviewing and assessing discipline practices to identify and remedy any racial or gender bias in discipline enforcement.

3. Educators be respected, reflected, and protected regardless of race, place, and gender

Educators, students, and families will hold decision makers accountable for honoring the expertise and professional judgment educators display every day—no matter where they live, what they look like, or who they love. These decision makers must ensure that educators’ professional training is respected, allowing them to engage students in inclusive and age-appropriate lessons that prepare them for their present and future.

We can do this by:

Supporting and defending educators’ use of teaching materials that incorporate diverse perspectives and that represent and acknowledge the experiences of all students;

Ensuring that individual educators who teach are not punished for teaching accurate information or encouraging critical engagement, even with difficult subjects;
Committing to dedicate time to having critical conversations among staff and students.
Putting in place practices that will lead to a more diverse faculty and workforce that reflects the demographics of the community and country, providing significant value to students across race and place;
Ensuring educators are compensated for their work in ways that attract, retain, and support them in preparing our students and strengthening our schools and campus communities; and
Ensuring educators' right to join together and use their collective voice to strengthen school climate and culture, secure the resources every student needs to thrive, and ensure professional respect.

4. Our freedoms to learn, explore, innovate, and grow be protected

Students, educators, and families will hold decision makers accountable for ensuring that post-secondary education honors diverse people, viewpoints, and debate. Students and educators across race and place will step into post-secondary education—whether at a technical school, community college, or four-year university—to engage and explore their worlds, challenge their assumptions, and grow their skills and capacity for critical thinking. Together, we will ensure higher education fosters research and innovation, and creates new solutions.

We can do this by:

Ensuring access to higher education by removing barriers to recruitment and retention for educators and students, no matter the color of their skin, where they are from, or what’s in their wallets;
Curating a curriculum that is inclusive, accessible, and relevant, and that includes the voices and experiences of students and educators across race, place, and gender identities; and
Ensuring everyone is given a fair shot on our country’s campuses, whether applying for admission, applying for a job, or seeking academic freedom—no matter where they are from, what they look like, or who they love.