Investing in high-caliber educational opportunities ensures students receive a rigorous, equitable, and supportive learning experience. This investment involves partnering with educational organizations, developing innovative school models, and advocating for policy changes to expand access to quality education. Elevating Quality: Co-create with community stakeholders, parents, and school leaders a working definition and framework for measuring and tracking quality schools. Support School’s with Innovative Educational Models: Invest in schools that offer innovative educational programs, integrating technology and personalized learning approaches. Improve School Board Governance: Develop training programs for school board members to enhance their decision-making and oversight capabilities. Pathways for Families Impacted by Closure: Create support mechanisms for families affected by school closures.

Investing in strategic initiatives to amplify the number of exemplary school board members, school leaders, and teachers who mirror the demographics of our students. This effort is more than representation; it's about bridging understanding and fostering achievement. Recruit and Develop School Leaders: Partner with organizations to offer incubator fellowships, and subsequently establish our own programming to create a school leader pipeline for educators of color. Strengthen Teacher Pipeline: Utilize initiatives like BLAQUE KC’s Freedom Summer School initiative to grow our own Black teacher pipeline and support alternative certification pathways through partnerships with UMKC and The Educator Academy. Invest in the expansion of teacher recruitment programs and organizations that prioritize teachers of color.

Investing in organizations that support families in identifying and choosing the best educational options for their children. This includes organizing informative workshops and providing personalized assistance to help parents navigate educational choices. Invest in organizations that provide comprehensive, user-friendly information on schools and support families during school enrollment periods. Parent Choice Transfer Portal: Develop a portal for easier transfer and enrollment processes among participating schools. Support Charter Enrollment Campaign: Coordinate efforts to simplify and promote charter school enrollment. Support KCPS Blueprint 2030 initiatives that advance real world learning opportunities, access to the arts, culturally relevant pedagogical practices, and teacher housing initiatives that lead to increased minority representation in the teaching force.

BLAQUE KC is committed to building a robust multi-racial and inclusive grassroots movement to influence educational policy through community mobilization and strategic partnerships. Shaping Public Opinion: Leverage a variety of media platforms, including social media, local news, and community newsletters, to highlight the successes and positive developments within the local educational ecosystem. By consistently sharing stories of progress and achievement, the goal is to shift public perception and generate widespread support for education initiatives. Policy Enhancements: Actively engage with policymakers, school boards, and community leaders to advocate for legislative and policy changes that promote high-quality education and comprehensive systemic reform. Build Advocacy Coalitions: Strive to expand the network of mission-aligned stakeholders, including parents, educators, community organizations, and local businesses, to create a united front in advocacy efforts. Community Empowerment: Provide community members with the necessary knowledge, resources, and training to actively participate in the educational policy-making process.

Supporting the election of education reform advocates and amplifying the Black community's influence in the political landscape. Voter Education: Educate the public on K-12 education issues to inform their voting decisions. Support Reform-Minded Candidates: Identify, endorse, and support candidates committed to education reform. Strengthen Voter Participation: Develop strategies to increase voter access and participation in education-related elections. Strengthen partnerships with state and local advocacy organizations working to reduce voter suppression, increase voter engagement, and promote access to quality jobs, livable wages, affordable health care and housing. These efforts have been shown to improve student achievement for families living in low-to moderate income communities.

Building a robust multi-racial and inclusive grassroots movement to influence educational policy through community mobilization and strategic partnerships. Invest in a community development fund: Support local businesses and infrastructure projects in neighborhoods surrounding schools. This can also include grants to small businesses, particularly those owned by community members and parents of students. Forge partnerships with local businesses to create internship and job opportunities for students. This helps students gain practical skills while fostering a sense of community support and investment in education. Advocate for and invest in affordable housing projects near schools to ensure that families can live close to educational facilities. Stable housing improves student attendance and performance, creating a more cohesive community. Encourage schools to procure goods and services from local businesses. This keeps money within the community and fosters stronger economic ties between schools and local enterprises.