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7 Ensure Access and Inclusion so that every child, regardless of race, color, national origin, home language, gender, economic circumstance or disability, attends a good school, has opportunities to learn and appropriate support for success Imagine > But Currently > What must be done > What we can do together

But Currently…

In many instances, minority families and children still are denied full access and inclusion to quality schools and programs. This is evidenced by high dropout rates across the nation, under-representation of minorities and linguistically diverse learners in gifted and talented programs, and their over-inclusion in special education programs and disciplinary actions in schools. These same populations do not access the same programs for post-secondary education, including college and university attendance and involvement in professional schools.

Furthermore, low-income and linguistically diverse parents continue to lack access to information and decision-making and representation in the business and operation of schools that impact their children’s success. Schools continue to fail to communicate to communities and parents in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways that deny or diminish access.

And finally, the sociocultural context of most schools’ operating experiences do not properly account for nor accommodate the diversity of the communities being served.