Maine's Academic Gap: A Call to Action for True Equity in Education
Addressing The Racial and Economic Gap:
I was the first Asian elected to the Portland School Committee, I served on the statewide Campus Compact, working with President Patenaude at USM we created the first scholarship program for Asian students in the 1990s, I did college bus tours for immigrant refugee kids almost thirty years ago, I was also part of the NAACP that sued the PPS to change how ESL is delivered, I was a tutor for Upward Bound and I was a tutor to immigrant and refugee kids in Kennedy Park in Portland, and I am utterly disappointed in our Progressive School Leaders.
This academic gap is creating a poverty pipeline. Maine has a workforce shortage and we cannot overlook an academic gap that puts more black and brown people and kids in poverty - some for a lifetime. Equity work means, putting more resources and effort to address this racial and economic gap.
We need to do better, we can do better.
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