Exposing the Shortcomings of the Public School System The Black American, public school system has been failing its students for years. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, these disparities are becoming more apparent. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. is a research project determined to uncover the shortcomings of the K-12 public school systems in the United States and suggest solutions to address them. By providing information and resources to help the Black American community understand and address educational disparities, Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. is dedicated to ensuring all students receive the quality education they deserve. Introducing Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K., or “The Pandemic Exposed Accommodations Lacking in the Black American K-12 Public School Systems”, is a proposed research project to examine the effects of the rapid transition to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of rural communities to adhere to the I.E.P. plans for students with disabilities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 7.2 million public school students ages 3-21 who received special education services in 2020-21. In metro Atlanta, there has been a reduction in special education services due to the pandemic. Additionally, 31% of parents of adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.) with an Individualized Education Program (I.E.P.) or receiving academic accommodations (504 Plan) reported remote learning to be very challenging, compared with 18% of parents of adolescents with A.D.H.D. without an I.E.P./504 Plan, and only 4% of parents of adolescents with neither A.D.H.D. nor an I.E.P./504 Plan. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. will focus on the unique challenges of the pandemic on students and their families in rural Alabama and rural Georgia K-12 public schools, which are predominantly African-American. There is little to no information describing the unique challenges that these communities have faced since the start of the pandemic. The goal of this project is to create an accurate depiction of the struggles that these students and their families have faced due to the pandemic, as well as to identify potential solutions for improving the remote learning experience for students with disabilities in these rural areas. The Importance of Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. is a groundbreaking project that exposes the lack of accommodations for Black American students in K-12 public school systems. This project seeks to engage with stakeholders in rural counties in Georgia and Alabama to uncover the effects of COVID-19 on student accommodations, share family stories of survival, and acknowledge the family’s determination to provide the necessary support for their students. The project will also be supported with interviews and producing digital media to be shared via a black-owned website. Through this project, individuals can gain access to two individualized educational program coordinators, parents, students, and special education teachers impacted by the pandemic. The goal is to provide a platform to allow these individuals to tell their stories and create a sense of awareness of the struggles they are facing. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. highlights the need for more equitable access to resources for students, families, and educators nationwide. Using the black-owned website www.isurvivedinc.com as a platform for interviews and blog posts, we can communicate and distribute content to those who may otherwise not have access to it. Through this project, we hope to bring attention to the unique challenges Black American students face due to inadequate education resources and create conversations about how to best support them in their educational journey. Our mission is to ensure no child is left behind due to a lack of resources and opportunities. The Goals and Missions of Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. The primary goal of Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. is to highlight the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students, families, and individualized educational program (I.E.P.) support in the Black American public school system. The project seeks to identify and assess gaps in services related to access to education, social-emotional health, and accommodations for students with disabilities and special needs during the pandemic. The mission of Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. is to disseminate information related to the pandemic’s effect on students who require accommodations, students with anxiety, students with special educational needs, and the surrounding community as it relates to the pandemic. This includes examining how virtual learning has impacted the availability of resources and support for students with disabilities; how distance learning has changed the way special education is delivered; how access to technology has limited resources; and how mental health support has shifted from in-person to online services. The project also aims to provide recommendations on how educators, administrators, and policymakers can better meet the needs of Black American K-12 students during the pandemic and beyond. Through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other data collection methods, Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. will strive to provide reliable, up-to-date information about the unique needs of Black American K-12 students during the pandemic and how schools and districts can better serve them. In doing so, the project hopes to help bridge the equity gaps made evident throughout this unprecedented time by uncovering the truth of what’s happening in our nation’s classrooms. A Special Thank you to: Mrs. LaToya Spann (iSurvivedinc) The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Dr. Chastity Bradford (Department of Biology | Tuskegee University) Mrs. Marchelle Spann The Families Dr. C. Floyd Mr. S. Williams
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a dramatic shift in how we learn, both in and out of the classroom. Educators face this unprecedented challenge as schools nationwide struggle to adjust to virtual learning. Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. (The Pandemic Exposed Accommodations Lacking in the Black American K-12 Public School Systems) is an initiative that seeks to understand better how educators are navigating this new era of learning. Through surveys with educators, the project has shed light on two distinct narratives of virtual education. This project comprehensively examines how virtual learning has impacted educators and students. Educator A Educator A is a consultant for several school districts nationwide and has been in education for the past 10 years. During the 2020-2021 school year, they worked as Special Education Teachers. Educator A noted that students with special needs had additional difficulty accessing materials, understanding the material, and staying engaged when virtual learning began. To help address these issues, Educator A provided resources to students and their parents, such as virtual tutoring, online resources, and virtual meetings with teachers and administrators. This enabled the students to get additional help and guidance from their teachers as they navigated through their virtual learning experience. Educator A also provided support to the parents by helping them better understand their child's individual educational needs and assisting them in finding resources to ensure their child's success. Educator B Educator B is an educator from Macon County (Georgia) who has been in the education system for 10 years. During the 2020-2021 school year, Educator B was a Special Education Teacher. According to Educator B, virtual learning posed challenges for students with accommodations. Many of these students needed help accessing the materials, understanding them, and staying engaged. Educator B also mentioned that there needed to be more communication between students, parents, and teachers, which made it difficult to ensure students were getting what they needed. In response to these issues, Educator B and their colleagues offered resources to students with accommodations and their parents. These resources included virtual tutoring, office hours, and support groups. These resources were designed to help students stay on track and support them to succeed in their studies. Final Thoughts Project P.E.A.L. B.A.K. has presented two compelling narratives on the impact of virtual learning during the pandemic. Educators A and B have provided a window into the challenges of teaching virtually and the opportunities that can be made available to students through this new learning mode. Despite the difficulties of remote teaching, both educators agree that they are committed to providing their students with the best possible education during these challenging times. The ultimate goal is to continue to provide students with the resources, support, and motivation necessary to become engaged and successful learners. Ultimately, we must remember that the true success of any educational endeavor lies in the dedication and hard work of our teachers and students, who will persevere even amidst adversity.
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