Edstruments is spending Juneteenth encouraging team member learning and reflection on the holiday as well as holding a virtual happy hour to celebrate it. Never heard of Juneteenth? Don’t worry, Edstruments is here to keep you informed.
1. On January 1, 1863, “Honest Abe,” otherwise known as 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, liberated American slaves with his Emancipation Proclamation. Because the nation was in the midst of The Civil War, however, The Confederacy ignored the decree. Two-and-a-half years later, on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger rode through Texas to tell the slaves-- the last in the country to remain in bondage-- that they were finally free.
2. While not a federal holiday, Juneteenth represents an important day of remembrance for the Black community, which is still recovering from the impact of 400 years of slavery, segregation, and ongoing systemic racism. Decades of research suggest the American descendants of black slaves still have less wealth, less freedom, and less opportunity in nearly all aspects of contemporary U.S. society.
3. K12 school finance is not immune to racial injustices, and studies show that predominantly white districts receive significantly more school funding than predominantly Black and brown districts. At Edstruments, we are committed to promoting funding equity at all levels. We recognize that Black Lives Matter, and we consistency reinforce our commitment to diversity and inclusion through company-wide culture and policies.
4. "Diversity and Inclusion" is more than just a phrase, and equity in education will come from both intentional school resource management and support for historically underserved groups. Today, Edstruments celebrates not only the Black community, but also reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive environment for all current and future team members and clients.
Happy Juneteenth! We hope today is a start to a great weekend. Make sure to subscribe below to stay up-to-date on the latest in K-12 finance and education budgeting.
Edstruments exists to equip education leaders with the knowledge and tools to most effectively and equitably serve their students. To learn more about how we can help your school administrators make better financial decisions, email us at hello@edstruments.com or fill out the contact form on our main website.
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