“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
This Black History Month, teachers and students of all colors will study this famous quote from martyred leader and speaker Malcolm X and hopefully reflect on its meaning. For so many, the future is more uncertain than ever. As we grapple with issues ranging from Artificial Intelligence to post-COVID learning loss, chronic absenteeism, the science of reading, teacher diversity, and the future of higher education, there is a greater need for a transformative solution to longstanding racial disparities in educational outcomes.
The recent National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as “The Nation’s Report Card,” underscores the persistent disparities between races. For example, white fourth graders continue to outscore their Black counterparts by a margin that has only marginally improved since 1992. The imperative for change is clear and waiting is simply not an option.
In the realm of educational innovation, where is the visionary idea that will instill accountability, grant autonomy to educational leaders, and expand school choice for low-income parents, thereby fostering the most significant gains for Black and Brown students?
