A virtual conversation with parents and guardians, students, educators, and advocates about 2021, a critical year for education in Baltimore City Public Schools.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Online! (Zoom, Facebook Live, and Twitter)

Education is a constitutional right in Maryland. In Baltimore City, it’s glaringly obvious the state has not fulfilled its duty to every student. Maryland must fix generational disinvestment in the education of Black and Brown students. But we must also have meaningful collaboration at the district level to support the critical state-level work.

That’s why we are bringing together the Baltimore City school community to talk about what’s at stake in 2021, and what we need to support meaningful relationships and collaboration.

Join ACLU of Maryland, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Parent and Community Advisory Board, Disability Rights Maryland, Baltimore Teachers Union, and The Youth for this virtual event. We also want to hear directly from parents, guardians, and students about your experiences navigating these difficult times. The event will offer breakout group discussions to dig deeper into your concerns.

Here’s what we’ll talk about at the town hall:

• What does meaningful collaboration at the district level look like to support the critical state-level work for education equity?
• Maryland must fix generational disinvestment and inequity in the education of Black and Brown students. What’s the status of the historic Bradford lawsuit, and how it could impact our schools in Baltimore City?
• The upcoming General Assembly legislative session starts in January. Governor Hogan vetoed the nearly $4 billion Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation. What can we do to ensure our legislators override the veto and make improvements to the bill to improve funding equity?
• We want to hear directly from students, parents, guardians, educators, and the whole school community about your experiences navigating these difficult times.

Bring your experiences and questions! The event will offer breakout group discussions with representatives from the organizations to dig deeper into your concerns.

KNOW BEFORE THE EVENT:

• The online event is free to attend.
• Please register and hold this time on your calendar. We will send out information about how to join the event a few hours before the event starts, so keep an eye on your inbox that day.
• We will livestream the event on the ACLU of Maryland Facebook page for people who do not have or do not want to use Zoom.

HOW TO USE ZOOM:

• Sign up for ZOOM (they offer a free version) for desktop or mobile devices.
• Please arrive 5 mins in advance to ensure you’re connected and ready to go.
• Your volume will automatically be set to mute. Please keep yourself on mute if you are not speaking. You will be able to unmute yourself if are speaking.