Lunch & Lead
Overview
Our school districts are at a crossroads.
Atlanta Public Schools has made one of the most consequential decisions of the decade: determining which schools to close, consolidate, or repurpose as part of its APS Forward 2040 initiative. At the same time, additional districts across Metro Atlanta are grappling with similar decisions. These decisions will shape opportunities for tens of thousands of Atlanta students, including those in communities that have historically faced the steepest inequities.
School closures are never “just” facilities decisions. National research from districts in places like Philadelphia, Texas, and California shows that outcomes for students hinge on what happens next:
- Whether students land in substantially higher-performing schools
- Whether receiving schools are resourced and supported before students arrive
- Whether districts closely monitor how displaced students fare over time
This Lunch & Lead is a space for Atlanta’s key civic, philanthropic, and community voices to grapple with these questions together and center students, especially those furthest from opportunity, in what comes next.
Event Details
Event: Lunch & Lead: Supporting School Consolidations with Students at the Center
Date: February 5, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Will be provided closer to the date
This is an intimate, closed-door conversation designed to foster authentic dialogue rooted in research, equity, and student experience.
Keynote Speaker
Alyn Turner, Ph.D.
Senior Research Director, Research For Action
What You’ll Experience
A research-driven conversation that is grounded in national evidence and Atlanta’s realities. The conversation will focus on three conditions metro districts must guarantee if closures are to help, rather than harm, students:
Substantially higher-performing receiving schools
Receiving schools are fully resourced before students arrive
Equity-centered decisions backed by authentic community engagement
Without rigorous safeguards, closures disproportionately affect Black students and historically disinvested communities. Equity impact statements, transparent engagement, and advisory structures with influence are non-negotiable.
These are not abstract principles.
They serve as guardrails that determine whether closures reduce inequities or exacerbate them.
Register to Attend
If you are able to join us for this important conversation, please confirm your attendance below.
Space is extremely limited due to the nature of the discussion. We encourage you to confirm as soon as possible.
Resources
