GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A group that advocates for education justice held a press conference Monday to address the inequities among teachers and students in the Grand Rapids Public Schools district (GRPS).
Grand Rapids for Education Justice advocates for education justice to ensure all students are getting an equal opportunity at a quality education and quality teachers are teaching in a safe learning environment, according to the group's Facebook page.
At the press conference Monday in front of the GRPS Administration Building, four members from the group called on GRPS to raise their teacher salaries, to integrate "lower tier" and "upper tier" student activities and academic exercises, and put an end to private funding that the school district receives.
Last October, the Grand Rapids Education Justice group protested "two-tiered" education within GRPS, saying the district separates children on the basis of race, ability and economic worth.
The group says some students in the district are not getting the same opportunity as others to get an education.
GRPS has responded in the past, saying the issue goes beyond its school system. GRPS Communications Director John Helmholdt said urban school districts all over the country are searching for ways to increase the number of college-ready high school graduates.
RELATED VIDEO:
More Education News on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:
- 13 Reads: Kent District Library presented with $7K for 'Mission: READ!'
- GRPS releases names of 5 superintendent candidates
- Allegan may close an elementary school to open an early childhood education center
- Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation receives 1.5M grant
- Wayland Union Schools holding public meetings for superintendent search
- Michigan's 3rd grade reading law is in effect. How does it work?
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.