Howdy everyone! We’re back with another podcast. In this week’s episode, I interview William & Mary Professor Amy Quark and organization founder Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams from the local nonprofit The Village Initiative about their sixth annual equity report, which sheds light on persistent disparities in the Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) school division.

Amy and Jackie share the troubling findings from their report, highlighting gaps in student disciplinary measures, academic achievement, and gifted program participation, particularly among Black and Hispanic students as well as students with disabilities. For instance, despite making up only 18% of the student body, Black students accounted for 39% of short-term suspensions and 43% of long-term suspensions during the 2022-2023 school year.

In our discussion, we talk about how this annual report started and The Village Initiative’s efforts to advocate for policy changes. Amy and Jackie emphasize the need for systemic solutions, including better support for teachers and staff, and the importance of collective bargaining rights.

Tune in to learn more about the ongoing struggle for educational equity in our community and how you can get involved.

Here's how you can support The Village Initiative:

* Visit their website: Village Initiative

* Email: villagewjcc@gmail.com

* Follow them on social media for updates and advocacy opportunities.

Cover photo courtesy of The Village Initiative.