Black History Month

Fighting for Education Equity with Leandro

During Black History Month, we at REP are celebrating the genius of Black children and shedding light on N.C.'s Leandro court case in the struggle for education equity in our schools. Read below for information about local Black History month celebrations, and ways to learn about, and get involved with, North Carolina's Leandro court case.

Leandro Case Update

What do you know about Leandro? The North Carolina state constitution guarantees that all NC children have access to a sound, basic education. However, since the Leandro v. State of North Carolina case was filed in 1994, the courts have consistently found that far too few students are receiving an education that meets the state’s minimum standard.

The Leandro court case continues to be the effort by North Carolina students and parents to get equitable funding for our public schools so that all children have access to a sound basic education. The North Carolina Supreme Court will be holding a hearing in the Leandro case on February 22.

Learn more from Every Child NC about Leandro and ways to get involved

• Learn more about the Leandro Case and upcoming hearing
• Explore how much funding your district would get with Leandro
• Community events to get involved with Leandro

Upcoming Events

We at REP are celebrating and uplifting the genius of black children the whole month of February. Here are a few events happening this month

Village of Wisdom (VOW) in Durham supports family organizing and advocacy entities working to eliminate racial injustice in schools.They currently are hosting "Wisdom Wednesdays"; a 6 session Black Parent chill-space to intentionally reflect on and process the past and present in order to "shift future narratives for ourselves and for our children." The sessions run from February 7th- March 8th, and you do not need to attend all sessions to participate.

Here are some links to upcoming Black History Month events across North Carolina. We hope to see you there!

• Charlotte
• Triad
• Fayetteville
• Asheville
• Raleigh
• Historical Black Communities of NC: Desegregation in Wake County: A Retrospective. A conversation with Joseph Holt Jr., the first Black student to challenge Raleigh's school system following the passing of Brown v. Board of Education, and Dr. Dudley E. Flood, a retired educator and state-level administrator who was instrumental in leading the desegregation efforts in North Carolina schools.
• John Chavis Memorial Park events

Resource Spotlight

We are excited to highlight resources from our project and partners

Are you in need of assistance for a student with disabilities? The ESA+ program is offering financial opportunities for students who have documented disabilities and meets the program requirements. Funds may be used to pay tuition and fees for eligible private schools, and for expenses such as speech therapy, tutoring services, and educational technology. Application opens February 1, 2024. The priority deadline is March 1. The application may remain open after March 1, subject to the availability of funds. For more information and steps on how to apply please visit the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Program - NCSEAA

VOW is a Durham Based program that supports family organizing and advocacy groups working to eliminate racial injustice in schools. They develop tools and resources that help parents, teachers, and students create ideal learning environments for Black and Brown learners.

Join the Work to Protect Black Genius

By taking the VOW you are committing to joining a collective of Black parents and their supporters dedicated to creating more culturally affirming learning environments for Black people by learning, refining, and using the Black Genius Elements. Vow to protect Black Genius today.

Articles & Videos of the Month

Some heart-fueling reads and videos for the month of February

The History of Educational Rights in NC

Throughout history, North Carolina has fought for Educational Rights for their citizens. North Carolina has become one of the only states to outline Education as a right for all citizens in the state constitution. You can watch the The Untold Story of the North Carolina Constitution, a short 10 minute video by Every Child NC, to learn more about North Carolina's unique history with public education.