Loving Public Schools Without Pretending They’re Enough

Loving Public Schools Without Pretending They’re Enough

Public schools are not inherently democratic or equitable simply by existing. Integration is not about perfection or martyrdom; it’s an ongoing practice of participation, accountability, and shared responsibility. Public schools can help sustain democracy—but only when people actively choose to invest, engage, and fight for them together.

What is a good parent?

What is a good parent?

What makes a “good” school — and a “good” parent? In this deeply personal reflection, IS community member Meredith shares how sending her son to their under-resourced neighborhood school helped her shape her parenting, question her need for control, and discover a different kind of goodness — one rooted in trust, community, and collective liberation.

Why we’re Talking About Redshirting — and Why TikTok Can’t Stop Talking About It, Too

Why we’re Talking About Redshirting — and Why TikTok Can’t Stop Talking About It, Too

A couple days ago, Integrated Schools posted a TikTok about “redshirting” — the practice of holding kids back a year so they’re the oldest in their kindergarten class — and it blew up. Hundreds of comments poured in. Some agreed. Some disagreed loudly. And some made points worth sitting with. We’ve been in the thick of these conversations for years, but seeing all the attention “redshirting” got on TikTok has made us want to dive a little deeper and respond to some of the feedback, and add more context.