Earlier this month, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held its 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) in Washington, DC, during an exciting time when we might see the first Black woman president elected. The Conference gathered a dynamic mix of politicians, business leaders, and policy experts to tackle pivotal issues such as advancing Black economic opportunities, expanding voting access, and addressing health disparities.
While the ALC covered a broad spectrum of topics, there were focused discussions on the foundational education challenges facing Black students of all ages. These discussions are essential as they highlight the differing approaches to education policy and the severe difficulties that younger Black and brown students face to succeed in school.
A key focus was on educational equity, mainly through sessions like Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s (D-MA-7) “Books Save Lives: The Power of Black Storytellers.” This discussion underscored the detrimental effects of censorship on students’ access to Black literature, emphasizing the need for increased advocacy in local education politics. Similarly, Congressman Bobby Scott’s (D-VA-3) session, “Brown v. Board of Education at 70,” revisited ongoing struggles for educational access, highlighting the persistent inequities that demand urgent attention.
Education policies are increasingly polarized along party lines, with Republicans opposing diversity equity and inclusion efforts, banning books, and making plans to dismantle the Department of Education. Conversely, Democrats seek ways to support Black students and those from less affluent backgrounds by providing student loan debt relief, increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students, and investing in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, for example. These policies significantly improve access to education for Black students.
Still, more attention needs to be focused on strengthening public education for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. For far too long, many Black students have not received a high-quality education at their public schools. My organization – Democrats for Education Reform DC, is committed to supporting public school choice, promoting literacy by third grade, ensuring ninth-grade algebra proficiency, and preparing students for high-wage jobs through college and career pathways.
Lastly, the ALC emphasized that Black voices must be present in elections and actively shape policy afterward. It’s essential for voters to hold elected officials accountable to their values and to work collaboratively towards improving educational opportunities for Black students. We invite anyone interested in advocating for students to receive a high-quality public education, electing education reform champions to public office, and influencing the education debate in the District to contact us at dferdc@dfer.org. Together, we can move from a vision of education equity to victory!