The Education Justice and Public School Accountability Project works to ensure that public schools respect the rights of immigrant parents and that neighborhood children receive a high quality and non-discriminatory public education. Our parent organizing work also brings Bushwick parents and caregivers into a leading role in citywide advocacy campaigns to improve the efficacy of New York City public schools. In the last three years, we have focused on:

Make the Road by Walking has worked closely with local and citywide allies to successfully involve immigrant parents in education-related decision-making, to monitor the efficacy of schools in our community and to achieve improvements in key educational services at our community schools and at the New York City Department of Education.

» Make the Road by Walking members are leading the charge to ensure equal treatment for limited English-proficient parents of children in New York City¹s public schools. As parent involvement is shown to be critically important to a child¹s academic success, it is imperative that all New York City parents be able to communicate with their children¹s teachers and school administrators. Make the Road by Walking parents worked with our legal staff, ally organizations, and members of the New York City Council to draft and promote the Education Equity Act, local legislation that will end national origin discrimination in New York City public schools by providing translation services to parents and caregivers.

» The Department of Education has agreed to host monthly community meetings to solicit parent and student input on the progress of high school reform in the community. Additionally, parents have provided critical support to youth members of Make the Road by Walking in their meetings with Department of Education officials to ensure that this reform moves forward equitably and sustainably.

For more information, contact: organizing@maketheroad.org