BA Quality Education for All
We believe, without a doubt, that every BA scholar has the potential to achieve their wildest dreams.
We believe education is the great equalizer allowing children from all backgrounds, learning styles, and needs to have access to a life of opportunity and success.
We enforce quality practices, social and emotional learning techniques and foster a sense of belonging to ensure all BA scholars have the support and inspiration they need to believe in themselves and that anything is possible.
Our school was founded in response to deep-rooted public-school inequities. We made it our mission to dismantle the achievement gaps prevalent in our community and transform the learning experience for every scholar who enters our doors. It’s why we’re building a culture of “I CAN. You CAN. We CAN.”
We are proudly committed to continuous improvement, including being an anti-racist school dedicated to creating and nurturing a diverse learning environment where all scholars, staff, and families are respected, valued, and included. We engage in regular intensive professional development methods, including one-on-one weekly observations and mentoring, collaborating on planning, implementation, reflection, and iteration.
Butler Academy is a TOGETHER Kind of Place.
Our intentions, words, and actions reflect our commitment to being an inclusive, high-achieving community delivering exceptional instruction and holding stellar expectations for all scholars, teachers, and administrators. Together, we are eliminating inequality and pursuing our highest calling.
BA Together for Anti-Racism
BA is committed to rethinking everything we thought we knew about education.
Research has found that many education policies that may not seem consciously racist have had disproportionate effects on students of color. For instance, policies that allow only high-performing students to take advanced classes in high school can unintentionally discriminate against students of color whose under-resourced elementary or middle schools did not offer more rigorous classes.
A curriculum written by, for, and based on the dominant culture can also make academic engagement and positive self-imagery less likely for minority students. Such a curriculum also minimizes the opportunity to develop respect for cultural differences. Similarly, historical data reveals that zero-tolerance discipline policies result in Black students facing disproportionately harsher punishments than white students. According to the US Department of Education, Black students make up 16 percent of the student population in the U.S., yet they make up 42 percent of all students who have been suspended.
As an anti-racist organization, our learning community and our advocates are committed to rethinking all education policies and practices through the lens of equity to ensure that all of our scholars thrive.
Together we understand the history and impacts of racism and the strategies we can implement to reverse it.
Together we eliminate inequality in our school community by dismantling racist systems, policies, and inequities.
Together we commit to making systemic, structural changes and holding ourselves accountable for this work.
Together we build a school community where:
All programs and facilities are accessible to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability.
Relationships remain at the center of everything we do; the voices, cultures, and backgrounds of all scholars, teachers, and families are respected and celebrated, and regular conversations about race are valued and encouraged.
Our policies and program design are transparent, culturally responsive, and affirming of scholars, while never losing sight of our goal of academic excellence.
Together we are BA.
