Learning Forward mourns George Floyd, who like so many other men and women of color, died senselessly, the result of violent policing and entrenched racism. We join individuals protesting across the globe in calling for justice and demanding respect for the humanity and value of African American men, women, and children. We commit to working actively against institutional and individual racism in collaboration with educators across the world. Learning Forward believes that Black Lives Matter.

Learning Forward believes that education will ultimately create the equitable society all students deserve. At the same time, there are systemic inequities within education itself, including how schools are funded, what resources are available to students, and lack of access to effective professional learning and teaching for some students.

Equity of opportunity for each student is a core principle of our work and as we strive for equity, Learning Forward serves as a champion for educators. We serve leaders of learning and change, who undertake the essential work of creating cultures and structures where all students and educators learn and grow daily. As educators, we must take responsibility for transforming the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that act as racist impediments to student learning, whether at the individual or systemic level.

As an organization, we invest in the collective efficacy of all educators and advocate for equity of opportunity for each student. As a staff, we commit to exploring and owning our beliefs and practices to more meaningfully contribute to a just, anti-racist education system. We must be vigilant in finding solutions for substantive change in the areas that we as educators can control. Learning Forward joins our partners within and beyond education to battle racism in all its forms.