Today for the first time, some of Minnesota’s leading education organizations have joined together to speak out against a coordinated campaign that undermines equity efforts across Minnesota and the nation. CEHD Dean Michael Rodriguez released this statement in support of students and education equity:
CEHD stands proudly with our partners advocating for students and education equity. You can read their full statement below or view a PDF of the statement with this link.
As a multigenerational Minnesotan and as Dean, I am more optimistic than ever about the future of our youth, families, and communities because of the deep commitments of Minnesota educators, education leaders, and all of you. Your combined efforts to ensure all students and communities thrive, even in the face of adversity and opposition, is inspiring.
My gratitude to Katie Pekel, our principal-in-residence, for convening the education leaders from these organizations to support their efforts. Together, we will continue supporting safe, welcoming, and effective schools for all.
Michael C. Rodriguez
Dean and Campbell Leadership Chair
College of Education and Human Development
Joint equity statement
Nearly all Minnesotans agree every student deserves an education that encourages them to understand and value who they are and where they came from so they can reach their full potential, no matter their skin color, background, gender, or ZIP code.
Too often, we have fallen short of this goal, especially for our students of color, LBGTQ+ students, students living in poverty, and students with special physical or emotional needs. We are committed to reversing this trend with programs and policies that meet students where they are—academically, emotionally, and physically—and lift them up so every student has an excellent chance at academic success. For us, this is the definition of education equity.
We have seen progress but have no doubts that more needs to be done to make our schools safe, welcoming and effective for all students. If nothing else, demography demands we quicken our pace. More than a third of our students statewide are students of color and our state becomes more racially and culturally diverse every year.
Unfortunately, many communities throughout Minnesota are feeling the effects of a well-organized national campaign pushing an agenda that misrepresents the vital work of racial and gender equity in our schools and then mislabels it as “critical race theory.” This deceptive campaign pushes the idea that educational equity is a zero-sum proposition—that it is necessary for some students to lose opportunities to help other students succeed. Nothing could be further from the truth. Educational equity is giving all students a world-class education.
To be clear: Every student—white, Black, brown, or Indigenous—benefits from learning a deeper respect and understanding for their neighbors through an honest education in social studies, language arts, and all the other subjects taught in our schools.
As representatives of classroom educators, administrators, and school boards throughout Minnesota, we value students for who they are today and our organizations are committed to developing all of them into informed citizens, good neighbors and critical thinkers who can live in, and someday lead in, a multicultural, multiracial Minnesota. Our kids deserve nothing less.”
Education Minnesota
Minnesota Association of School Administrators
Minnesota School Boards Association
Association of Metropolitan School Districts
Minnesota Administrators for Special Education
Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association
Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals
Minnesota Association of School Business Officials
