EQUITY COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
(Open Committee Positions)
At MS54, our top goals include enhancing and improving efforts to ensure academic success by closing opportunity gaps and providing equitable and inclusive working and learning environments for all students, families, staff and communities. The New York City Department of Education defines equity as: “meeting every student where they are, and providing the support, resources, and high expectations for them to achieve at consistently high levels.” Booker T. and the NYC DOE are committed to creating and supporting learning environments that reflect the diversity of New York City and with the belief that all students benefit from diverse and inclusive schools and classrooms.
2026-27 MEETINGS & EVENTS
Please look in the weekly newsletter for upcoming workshops and meetings
Want to join the MS54 Equity Team?
Have an idea for an event?
Email us at equity@ms54pta.org.
Cultural Calendar
| Latine Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15 – October 15, 2026 |
| Native American Heritage Month | November 2027 |
| Black History Month | February 2027 |
| Lunar New Year | February 6, 2027 |
| Women’s History Month | March, 2027 |
| Arab American History Month | April, 2027 |
| AAPI & Jewish Heritage Month | May 2027 |
| Gay Pride Month | June 2027 |
RESOURCES
The Equity Team has compiled a list of free educational opportunity programs that provide academic support, enrichment activities, mentoring, and preparation for high school admissions for low-income and underrepresented students. We encourage parents/guardians to check program websites over the summer as some application deadlines are in the fall. If you need assistance with the application process, contact the Equity Team.
- APEX for Youth: Mentoring and Test prep for AAPI students
- Bank Street College Liberty LEADS
Liberty LEADS at Bank Street College is a New York City–based high school completion and college access program that has served more than 1,700 students between 5th and 12th grade since 1989. Founded to empower underrepresented youth, our program makes an impact in the lives of students every day by helping them attain higher education, embrace leadership engagement, and create a positive future for themselves and others. - Baruch College STEP Academy
The Baruch College STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) Academy is a New York State Education Department-funded pre-college program for middle and high school students interested in pursuing careers in the STEM professions. The program invites eligible students to participate in workshops and enrichment courses in math, science, SAT, and college preparatory workshops. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at baruchstep@gmail.com. - A Better Chance: Recruits, places, and supports students from underserved communities at more than 200 independent day, boarding, and high-performing public schools. Students apply in 4th or 7th grade.
- Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring Program: Founded in 1902, Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring strives to transform the lives of children through one-to-one mentoring, while strengthening entire families in hardship.
- Breakthrough New York: A free program that prepares low-income students to succeed in middle school, high school, and college. It is a ten-year program that starts the summer before 7th grade. Students apply in 6th grade.
- Oliver Scholars Program: Prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students from underserved New York City communities for success at top independent schools and colleges. We provide crucial support for our Scholars so they can realize their full potential and ultimately give back to the city, the nation, and the world. For rising 7th graders. Students are nominated by teachers beginning in September.
- Prep for Prep: Program for academically gifted African American, Latino, and Asian American students who are also low-income. Prep for Prep helps students enroll and thrive in premier independent schools (commonly known as private schools) in New York City and boarding schools across the Northeast. Students apply in 5th, 6th or 7th grade.
- SEO Scholars: A free, eight-year, academic program that gets low-income public high school students to and through college. Students apply in 8th grade.
- TEAK Fellowships: A free NYC-based program that helps talented students from low-income families achieve their potential. Through intensive after school and summer classes, TEAK prepares middle school students to get into the nation’s most selective high schools and colleges. TEAK’s strong support system ensures that students thrive in their high schools and graduate from college, ready to pursue their professional goals and positively impact the world.