Education
Student Loan Debt Relief
Courts have issued orders blocking the federal government's student debt relief program. Student loan forgiveness applications have been paused while the government appeals those orders.
The student debt relief plan promised to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student debt for those who make less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 for households, and up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants.
Although the government is no longer accepting applications, you can subscribe for updates at the link below. Do not fall for scams or give your information to anyone outside this official Department of Education website:
https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application
Indiana NAACP Releases Black Academic Excellence Plan
The Indiana State Conference of the NAACP, in partnership with NAACP branches across the state, on April 21 released the NAACP’s Indiana Black Academic Excellence Plan, a comprehensive guide for state and local leaders to substantially improve K-12 academic results for Indiana’s Black students. It was developed and designed by members of the NAACP Education Committee and other concerned community members.
Learn more about the plan and read the full plan and executive summary.
See media coverage of the plan and what people are saying.
The plan defines and establishes principles for what Black Academic Excellence looks like in preschool through high school. It provides a blueprint for educators, legislators and government officials to frame new perspectives and provide more consistent actions to correct unsatisfactory educational outcomes throughout the state.
“Our state cannot be content with celebrating the achievement success of Black students who are deemed proficient,” said Barbara Bolling-Williams, president of the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP. “Nor should we be surprised that these high performing students were capable of somehow overcoming the odds that block success for the majority of our Black students. This success is what we should all expect for all students.”
Indianapolis NAACP Helped Defeat Racist Bills That Would Have Prevented Our Children From Learning the Truth About History
Watch: January 19 Press Conference with ISTA and Other Allies (External Link)
The Greater Indianapolis NAACP, in partnership with the American Constitution Society and the Black Law Students Association, sponsored a February 16 public forum on Critical Race Theory: What It Is and What It Is Not.
Watch a recording of the webinar here. (Event starts at the 12:00 mark.)
Read an Indianapolis Recorder account of the event.
During the 2022 Indiana General Assembly, the Greater Indianapolis NAACP issued a statement in opposition to Senate Bill 167, which would have restricted how Indiana teachers can talk about race and racism. SB 167 was pulled from consideration. When similar language in HB 1134 moved forward, the NAACP and our many partners spoke out in opposition. HB 1134 did not pass out of the Senate. Thanks to all parents, teachers and community leaders who spoke out against this legislation.
Scholarships
Students: Find College Scholarship Opportunities and Apply.
NAACP Provides Blood-Lead Testing & Vaccination Resources at School 42's Back-to-School Block Party
Dangers of Lead in Homes & Water
Racism & Implicit Bias in Education
Garry Holland Receives NAACP Award
NAACP Recognizes IPS Educator Pat Payne
On August 14, 2020, the Indianapolis NAACP presented an
African Virtual Tribute to Patricia Payne for 58 Years
of Service to the Indianapolis Public School District.
Congratulations Dr. Payne, and thank you!
Indianapolis Public Schools Adopt Black Lives Matter Resolution & Racial Equity Policy
Copies of the IPS policies can be downloaded at the links below:
BLACK LIVES MATTER, Resolution No. 7861, Adopted June 25, 2020
RACIAL EQUITY MINDSET, COMMITMENT AND ACTION, IPS Bylaws and Policies No. 1619, Adopted June 25, 2020
IPS Policy on Black History/Multicultural Education, Adopted in 1979
NAACP Thanks Dr. McCormick for Appropriate Distribution of CARES Act Funds, Calls for Funds to Be Used to Address Achievement Gaps
INDIANAPOLIS -- June 8, 2020 -- As people all over America and the world are exercising our rights to speak out and protest for equal justice under the law, NAACP leaders in Indiana want to draw attention to the intersectionality of all civil rights issues, including the right to quality education and concerted efforts to eliminate the achievement gaps that hold back children of color. The Indiana State Conference and Greater Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP have sent this letter to Indiana Superintendent of Public Education Dr. Jennifer McCormick, thanking her for distributing school relief funds under the federal CARES Act to public schools as traditionally required by federal law, and not using the flawed guidance issued by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
“Secretary DeVos' guidance contradicts the clear requirement of the CARES Act,” said Victor Goode, National NAACP Assistant General Counsel. “Her guidance is a switcheroo. A game of three-card monte. It is part of her continuing efforts to use hard-earned taxpayer funds for her privatization agenda while public school districts continue to be underfunded. I commend the State Superintendent for just saying no. Education policy and implementation is not independent of elections. So, as we together fight for fair and safe elections, register, vote, and get others to do likewise in the coming local, state, and national elections."
As we note in the letter, to implement the Indiana Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Indiana has set a goal to reduce by 50% the existing and persistent achievement gap for specified student groups by the year 2023. We believe CARES Act funds should be used to help close these gaps for identified students. Therefore, it would have been improper and unjust for the State of Indiana to have used those funds for any other purpose than its original intent, according to the Title I guidelines and its predetermined formulas.
While we agree with Dr. McCormick's decision, the NAACP is also quite concerned that the funds should be equitably distributed among all eligible schools, and that those funds should be used by schools to close the persistent and appalling academic achievement gap. These COVID dollars are a welcomed source of revenue, but they do not replace what the state must continue to do to close any of its students’ existing and further widening gaps. The NAACP will monitor the equitable distribution, transparency, and appropriate use of CARES Act funding and all other federal and state funding in the days ahead.
NAACP Thanks General Assembly for Passing Lead in Schools Legislation
INDIANAPOLIS -- March 12, 2020 -- The Indiana General Assembly this week passed House Bill 1265, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Jackson, which would require testing of drinking water for lead in all Indiana school buildings by 2023. If levels of lead in drinking water exceed safe levels (15 parts per billion), the school building administrators must take action to reduce the lead levels to meet federal standards. The House on March 10 voted 93-0 to approve of changes made to the bill in the Senate. It now moves to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature.
In response, Greater Indianapolis NAACP Branch President Chrystal Ratcliffe issued the following statement:
"The NAACP extends its thanks to Representative Jackson and to the many co-sponsors of House Bill 1265, which will help ensure that drinking water in our schools is safe for children to drink. This legislation shows that Hoosiers of all colors and political beliefs can work together when the health and well-being of our children is at stake. Our work is not done. We urge Gov. Holcomb to sign the bill and ask legislative leaders to appoint a summer study committee to review the issues raised by Sen. Jean Breaux in Senate Bill 285. Sen. Breaux's legislation would have required the State Department of Health to take all necessary steps to increase the number of Medicaid-covered children who are screened for lead poisoning during their well-baby checkups."
Recent News Coverage:
Indianapolis Recorder: NAACP Addresses Lead Poisoning
Indiana Lawyer: Lead Testing Bill Clears Statehouse
Thank you to all who attended the January 2020 NAACP-IU public forums regarding Addressing Risks of Lead Poisoning in Children. For those of you that were not able to attend, here's a link to a recording of our expert panel discussing policies to protect children from lead poisoning. You can also watch a short video that was played during the forum entitled, Lead in Children. At this link, you will find a presentation by Professor Anna Azier of Brown University entitled Lead Exposure and the Black and White Test Score Gap.
Background
After nearly two years of advocacy by the Greater Indianapolis NAACP, the Indianapolis Public Schools and the Marion County Public Health Department began offering lead testing for all kindergarten and first graders in May 2019. Last September, our branch partnered again with the Marion County Public Health Department to offer lead testing for kindergarten and first grade students at Mayor’s Charter Schools, Indianapolis Public Schools and the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township.
Children can be exposed to lead through lead paint dust or paint chips, lead in soil, lead in drinking water and some consumer products. In January 2019, the Marion County health department released the results of a survey that showed 161 of 297 school facilities they tested were in violation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for lead levels in drinking water. Affected schools replaced water fountains, added filters and took other corrective measures.
Policy makers took notice. Were children at risk in other school systems across the state?
In January, our branch called on the Indiana General Assembly to act immediately to prevent lead poisoning by moving forward legislation to increase screening for lead hazards in schools or lead levels in young children.
In partnership with the IU McKinney School of Law and the IU Office of Community Engagement, the NAACP in January brought in experts on childhood lead poisoning and public health policy from Michigan, Rhode Island, New York and Washington, D.C. Panelists discussed proven strategies for reducing the dangers posed to children by lead in water, soil and homes.
Watch a video recording from our first public forum on Lead in Drinking Water.
Indiana's Ethnic Studies Requirements
Greater Indianapolis NAACP Branch 3053 worked with African American, Native American, Latinx, and Asian cultural education experts to successfully push for passage of a 2017 ethnic studies law, the result of four years of advocacy in the Indiana General Assembly. The law requires that each school corporation, charter school and accredited nonpublic school “shall offer the study of ethnic and racial groups as a one semester elective course in its high school curriculum at least once every school year.”
Ethnic Studies Requirement for Indiana High Schools Signed Into Law (5/21/2017)
NAACP, Partners Celebrate New State Ethnic Studies Standards for Schools (7/16/18)
Congratulations to Education Chair Garry Holland on receiving a 2021 President's Award from the Greater Indianapolis NAACP.
NAACP's Education Mission
The NAACP works to ensure that every disadvantaged student and student of color graduates ready for college or a career by ensuring access to great teaching, fair discipline, equitable resources and challenging curriculum. We are dedicated to eliminating the severe racial inequities that continue to plague our education system. Our ultimate goal is that every student of color receives a quality public education that prepares him or her to be a contributing member of a democracy.
To achieve these goals, the Education Committee of the national board, in concert with education chairs and leaders from across the Association, have settled upon a four-prong strategy to improve educational achievement for disadvantaged students:
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Increasing Resource Equity: Target funds to neediest kids
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Ensuring College & Career Readiness : A path to success after graduation for all students
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Improving Teaching: Growing our own great teachers now in underserved communities
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Improving Discipline: Eliminate zero tolerance; keep kids in school* All applied to turnaround schools