The GENIUS (Genuine Empathy & Nurturing Intellect for Underserved Students) Initiative proudly presents Freedom Dreaming for Black Student Success.

The goal of this event and following related activities is to equip and empower schools and districts to meet the needs of our Black/African American and our other most marginalized students by addressing the opportunity gaps using Equity Multiplier funding and other resources.

For decades, Black/African American and other marginalized student groups have not been supported in meeting their highest and best potential with regard to academic achievement and attainment or socio-emotional development and they have received little targeted and meaningful support.

We seek to change that dynamic and provide schools and districts with relevant research, resources, and promising practices to enable them to shatter opportunity gaps and unleash the GENIUS of Black/African American and marginalized students.

The recently released and award-winning publication, Supporting the African American Learner: A Guide for Transforming Beliefs, Systems and Practices for Black Students (STAAL), presents four foundational principles for changing outcomes for Black/African American and marginalized students.

This professional learning opportunity for district, site, and equity focused teacher leaders will do the following:

1. Provide an overview of the Supporting the African American Learner Research
2. Provide practical and pragmatic knowledge through expert practitioner panels focused on the research core principles
3. Expose participants to non-profits and community agencies who can augment school-based offerings and support the closure of opportunity gaps, and mitigate the accumulation of disadvantage
4. Provide processing and planning time for teams to prepare to enact the research based practices presented