(US MEDIA GROUP) – Education advocate Terrence Gladney took a bold stand at the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education meeting on Thursday, confronting the board about the unequal treatment faced by Black students in the district. Gladney, who chairs the Black/African American Advisory Board (BAAAB) for the district, raised concerns about disparities in special education services and disciplinary approaches faced by Black students.
Despite raising these concerns to the board back in May, Gladney claims that the board has not taken any action to address the issues raised by BAAAB. In a passionate address to the board, Gladney stated, “Black students in this district are overrepresented in special education and are facing high suspension rates. These issues have been brought to your attention, yet nothing has been done to rectify it.”
The SCUSD Board of Education could not directly respond to Gladney’s demands during the public comments portion of the meeting, prompting Gladney to stand his ground at the podium for 15 minutes until security escorted him away.
Data from the California Department of Education shows a widening achievement gap for Black students. In math proficiency, Black students lag over 30 percentage points behind their white peers. These concerning statistics echo similar concerns raised by education activists in other states.
In response to Gladney’s demands, the SCUSD is currently working on an action plan to address the issue of racial disproportionality in special education services. The board has announced that further discussions on BAAAB’s recommendations will be added to their August meetings.
Gladney’s actions have sparked conversations and brought attention to the plight of Black students in Sacramento. It is clear that there is still much work to be done to ensure equity and fairness for all students in the education system. As we continue to fight for equality, advocates like Gladney will be at the forefront, urging for much-needed change.