The Rebound: Anti-racism plan

WHICH STUDENTSGET PRIORITY FORIN-PERSON LEARNINGHAS SPARKEDHEATED DEBATE.ASH-HAR QURAISHIHAS BOTH SIDES.THE SCHOOLBUILDINGS INEVANSTON, ILLINOISARE STILL EMPTY.

ALLTHE DISTRICT'S 7600STUDENTS ARE ALLLEARNING REMOTELY."We have to make surethat students who havebeen oppressed that wedon't continue to oppressthem, and we give themopportunity."THE DISTRICT'SRECENTLY HIREDSUPERINTENDENTCAUSED A STIRANNOUNCING HOWTHEY WILL DECIDEWHICH STUDENTSGET PRIORITYSEATING WHEN IN-PERSON LEARNINGRESUMES."We will be targeting ourdependent learners -those are students whoare marginalized - first."ANYA TANYAVUTTI ISTHE MOTHER OF TWOCHILDREN IN THEDISTRICT.

SHE'S ALSOTHE SCHOOL BOARDPRESIDENT."Understanding that otherfolks are experiencingmore vulnerability andmore harm than my familyis experiencing.

I'mhappy to see thoseresources go to peoplewho need it more."FOR THE LAST FOURYEARS THE EVANSTONSCHOOL DISTRICTHAS BEEN WORKINGON IMPLEMENTINGANTI-RACISMRESOLUTIONS ANDCURRICULUMS TOADDRESS INEQUITY."Taking an anti-raciststance requires some sortof sacrifice.

And I thinkthat's really the part ofracial equity that ourcountry is still getting usedto on the ground."HERE IN EVANSTON,THE ACHIEVEMENTGAP DOES FALLALONG RACIAL LINESWHERE BLACK ANDLATINO STUDENTSARE ONE-THIRD ASLIKELY AS WHITESTUDENTS TO MEETCOLLEGE READINESSBENCHMARKS.THE DISTRICTACKNOWLEDGESTHAT IT'S PLAN TOALLOW SOMESTUDENTS TORETURN BEFOREOTHERS FALLSMOSLTY ALONGRACIAL LINES.

BUT ITIS NEED - THEY SAY -NOT RACE THAT WILLBE THE DETERMININGFACTOR."if we simply said we'regonna just reopen forwhoever wants to comethen the people who aremost well-resourced andmost well-connectedwould likely be able to getthose seats prior to peoplewho are challenged withhomelessness orchallenged with gettingfood on the table."AND THERE HAS BEENOPPOSITION.ARLINGTON, VIRGINIABASED "STUDENTSFOR FAIRADMISSIONS" A NON-PROFIT ADVOCACYGROUP THAT HASMOUNTED LEGALCHALLENGES TOAFFIRMATIVE ACTIONHAS CALLED THEDISTRICT'S PLANUNCONSTITUTIONAL."If that student has uniquespecial needs then that'sfine to take those intoconsideration.

What is notfine to take intoconsideration is the skincolor or ethnic heritage ofstudents.""It has been legallyreviewed, and I amconfident that we areoperating within thebounds of ourConstitution."IN-PERSON LEARNINGIS TENTATIVELYSCHEDULED TORESUME IN MID-NOVEMBER.

ANDWHILE THE DISTRICTSAYS IT WILLACCOMMODATE ASMANY STUDENTS ASPOSSIBLE THEPRIORITY REMAINSTHEIR MOSTVULNERABLESTUDENTPOPULATION.REPORTING FROMEVANSTON, ILLINOIS -I'M ASH-HARQURAISHI.STILL AHEAD... WE'LLCHECK IN WITH THE