Advocacy Overview

TDP currently works closely with the Baltimore Chapter of the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) to advocate for and organize around education advocacy in Baltimore City. We write and select from a critical perspective with a goal of making complex issues accessible and relevant to all education stakeholders.

Advocacy

For more than a decade, TDP has engaged in a number of campaigns which involve grassroots research and advocacy focused on how to achieve more equitable education for students in Baltimore.

Issues we are focused on include policies that most impact teachers, parents and students such as the discipline policy, community schools policy and family engagement policy. We are are also focused on equity issues such as the changing demographics of our teaching force and issues related to school closings. These campaigns connect us to organizers and committed activists in Baltimore, allow us to partner and work with allies, as well as help us influence policy development at central office.

We listen to stakeholders to determine the priorities that reflect people most impacted by schools. We then mobilize for change on specific policies and practices in Annapolis and at the district level. We do this through tabling, canvassing, rallying and testifying.

Organizing in Schools

We build relationships with community school coordinators, parent leaders, student organizations, teachers and anyone else interested in advocating for the schools we deserve.

We provide workshops and resources to parents and school-based organizers. This includes city wide and school specific workshops on things like how to get an organized parent group up and running, resources for parents who want more support, tools and training in how to advocate for issues your school cares about, how to understand your schools budget and more. (See our section on “Resources” for videos and slide decks related to our organizing work)