Policy Platform

Addressing the Whole Child

Atlanta Public Schools is often the first relief point for children and families navigating economic hardship. We know the data: In District 2, nearly 42% of students missed 15 or more days of school in the 2023–24 school year, with some schools seeing chronic absence rates as high as 68%. Our average literacy rates — 19% in 3rd grade, 35% in 5th, and 47% in 8th — are not just academic statistics; they reflect a deeper story about poverty, health, and access.

Eighty-seven percent of our students face poverty-related barriers, and many live with the added challenges of disabilities, unstable housing, or limited healthcare access. Schools alone cannot solve these problems — but they can create environments that nurture students academically, socially, and emotionally. That means:

  • Implementing restorative, not punitive, discipline practices.

  • Providing culturally relevant instruction that affirms students’ identities.

  • Partnering with families and other community-based organizations to address the barriers that keep kids out of class.

Our aim is simple but urgent: every child in District 2 should be academically ready, emotionally resilient, and physically healthy — because that is the foundation that allows them to SOAR!

Investing in Earlier Access to Education

A child’s educational journey doesn’t start in kindergarten — it starts at birth. By the time our students reach age six, the education gap has already taken root. Of the 15 + licensed childcare providers in 30314, none have achieved the state’s highest quality rating. Only five centers serve children ages three and up, and just four offer dedicated Pre-K programs — totaling only 200 available Pre-K seats for more than 1,100 children under the age of five.

For families in District 2, expanded early learning access would not only prepare children for school — it would also ease the crushing cost of childcare, allowing parents to redirect resources back into the home. Childcare costs for some rival college tuition rates.

Investing in early education is both a moral and an economic imperative. The earlier we equip our children with the tools to thrive — in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills — the stronger their academic and life outcomes will be.

Creating a Leadership Pipeline for Our Students

District 2 is surrounded by global business and some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, from the AUC to Georgia Tech and Georgia State. Yet for too many of our students, access to these resources feel out of reach.

Only 9 of the 27 Career, Technical, & Agricultural Education pathways are available in District 2. Dual enrollment participation is just 7.7% at Washington and 2.0% at Douglass. Advanced Placement offerings are half or less of what’s available at Midtown High School.

To close these opportunity gaps, we need stronger partnerships between schools, local businesses, and higher education institutions to create:

  • More job-shadowing, apprenticeship, and internship opportunities.

  • Expanded dual enrollment and AP course access.

  • Mentorship programs that connect students with leaders who look like them and understand their journey.

Hope is a powerful driver — but hope grows stronger when it’s paired with tangible opportunities. By investing in a leadership pipeline, we can ensure that every student in District 2 can see themselves not just as part of Atlanta’s legacy, but as its future.

Owning Our Path Forward Through Community

District 2’s story is one of resilience and brilliance — a legacy built by generations who understood that the strength of our schools is tied directly to the strength of our neighborhoods. To see progress, we must take intentional, collective ownership of the future we want for our children.

When schools and communities unite, students attend more regularly, stay engaged, and graduate prepared for life. That’s why our vision includes:

  • Partnering with faith leaders, alumni, small business owners, neighborhood associations, and mentors to offer real-world learning and enrichment beyond the school day.

  • Ensuring neighborhood voices help shape student outcomes.

  • Creating more opportunities for families to be active, empowered partners in their child’s education.

Every volunteer hour, every donated book, every mentorship match is an investment in both academic success and the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. The work ahead is not easy — but it is ours. Together, we can build on District 2’s legacy and create the schools our children deserve.