If not for the fact that the majority of African American children are educated in public schools,[1] I would not spend so much time highlighting concerns about the education they are receiving. I do so to educate the masses to spark a movement to improve instruction and the educational environment for African American students who will continue to be primarily educated in public schools.
While homeschooling is on the rise,[2] there are not enough families committed to educating their children at home. In the first place, many parents may not feel they have enough knowledge of the various subjects taught in school to give their children a well balanced education that will prepare them for college or careers. In the second place, many families do not have the time that is needed to effectively research, plan, and deliver lessons, and they do not have the expertise to design authentic student learning activities and assessments for learning. We have exciting news for those who wish to experience the personal connectedness and balanced approach we provide in The ReImagine Schools’ curriculum. We will make some of our courses available for purchase to those who want to use it with their homeschooled students to give them a competitive cultural and social edge. Maybe you want to supplement the instruction your student is receiving in typical classrooms where their historical and current perspectives are missing and/or distorted. We welcome the opportunity to partner with you. Please look for more information on our website.
As a collective, we do not have an abundance of education management organizations or associations that provide for the specific learning needs of African American students. So, for the foreseeable future, public schools will continue to be the go-to option for most African American people.
Even if I opened dozens of online and brick and mortar sites for The ReImagine Schools, it would not be enough to accommodate all of the students eligible to attend. I recognize that, and that is why I have spent the past few years advocating for change in the educational experiences of African American students in hopes of bringing awareness to the community, so they will also become advocates. I want our students to have a fair advantage in whatever educational setting they choose whether that’s at The ReImagine Schools, public schools, private schools, or homeschools.
The ReImagine Schools intends to set the standard for excellence in instructional planning and delivery, student engagement and development, and socialization and leadership development. We intend to be a model for other educators who seek to eliminate opportunity gaps and experience an uptick in student academic success and improved social outcomes.
[1] According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, In 2019, 7.7 million Black students attended PK-12 public schools.
[2] By 2013, the number of African American children being homeschooled was 8% of the 2.04 million K-12 homeschooled population. In 1999, African Americans made up only 1% of the homeschool population.