The Blackboard Report: DEI on the Education Chopping Block, Religion in the Classroom, & The Mass Deportation of Black Immigrant Students
Over the last week, growing concerns have risen over the educational landscape shift as we brace for a second Trump term.
“If you take democracy seriously, then you have to take education seriously as well, because at its best, education allows for the practice of democracy.” — Angela Davis
Board Members —
It feels good to be back after a much-needed holiday weekend of restoration. If I’m honest, choosing myself over the work I do —and love—was the hardest decision I’ve made in a while. I was fortunate to have extended my Thanksgiving break right into the National Day of Rest for Black Women (December 2nd). While I am proud to be able to do what I love for a living—lately—rest has been my best protest. Not just sleeping or lounging around, but resting in grace, in accepting things as they are, and in deep gratitude for all that I have and am.
My people: I hope all is the same for you and yours during this time.
This Week On The Board
While I did prioritize rest, it wasn’t completely lost upon me that over the last week, growing concerns have risen over the impact of school choice initiatives, religious education, unchecked racism, and the potential mass deportation of children as the educational landscape begins to shift under the incoming Trump administration. And at the center is the state of our education during this time and how we continue to navigate and overcome disparities—one after another.
On This Day
On this day in 1906, seven African American students at Cornell University founded Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, INC., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for Black men in the United States. The organization was created to provide support and a sense of brotherhood for Black male students facing racial prejudice and discrimination.
Additionally, tomorrow (December 5th) marks the 114th anniversary of the Oyster v. Wall decision, in which a District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ruled that Isabel Wall, an eight-year-old girl, was banned from attending the local white public school because she was 1/16th Black. The court held that any child with an “admixture of colored blood” would be classified as such. The decision came just over a decade after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which held that the U.S. Constitution permitted the racial segregation of public facilities.
Top of the Board
DEI on the Education Chopping Block: Walmart may have been the latest to pull back on DEI initiatives, but they are not the only, — as educational institutions are currently rolling out their plans to weaken or remove the framework designed to ensure fair treatment for all. States like Texas, Idaho, and Iowa are getting an early look at DEI restrictions and how the backward move will impact the most vulnerable in education.
Getting Religious in the Classroom: Last week, the Texas education board approved an optional Bible-centered curriculum for elementary schools. The decision reflects a growing interest among Republicans and follows their efforts in other states to incorporate more religious teaching into classrooms.
Educational Concerns Over Mass Deportations: With Donald Trump’s re-election sparks renewed fears of mass deportations and how schools are preparing for potential disruptions and setbacks. Although there has been no policy change, the threat in itself has caused widespread panic and will impact immigrant children’s—especially Black immigrant children’s ability—to focus in the classroom.
State Board
Alabama: The state’s DOE has released its 2023-2024 report card for the school year. The state’s overall grade increased from 83 last year to 85 this year, retaining a B average. However, the state earned a D for overall academic achievement (64) and an F (41) for English language proficiency in the latest report card. Alabama earned an A+ (97) for academic growth and an A- (90) for the graduation rate.
California: Isaac Bryan (D), a California lawmaker, introduced a bill Monday to allow admission priority to the descendants of slaves at the University of California and California State University, two of the largest public university systems in the nation.
Florida: The Tampa Bay Times has rounded up education news this week around the state and discussed how educational visions will play into President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for his second term. Some big stories include charter schools and school choice, of course.
Georgia: The state’s DOE has outlined its 2025 legislation priorities, emphasizing school safety, student success, and more support for educators. Key initiatives include funding a School Resource Officer and crisis alert system in every school, funding charter schools, and expanding mental health programs.
Illinois: A group of over 100 state education leaders has launched Vision 2030 — a plan centered on three education pillars: future-focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding. The plan was aided by surveys completed by over 1,000 educators around the state and says they propose to “measure student success over time” rather than in one annual standardized test.
Louisiana: According to new data released by the state’s DOE, performance scores continue to increase for students, moving Louisiana from 46 to 40th in education, —marking the state’s highest national ranking ever.
Mississippi: Family and community advocates say the state’s Education Savings Account plan is not working the way it should—especially for special needs families—and are calling on lawmakers to make changes during the upcoming 2025 legislation session.
New York: A recent report from the state’s Technical and Educational Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS TEACHS) found that more than 155,000 public school students experienced homelessness in New York in the 2022-23 school year, —the highest level since at least 2009.
North Carolina: Bladen Online discusses the critical role of the state’s public schools in disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene, emphasizing the need for legislation to provide essential resources and support for affected communities.
South Carolina: The state’s BOE will soon decide whether to ban five more books from public schools. Two include "HMH Intro Literature 8th Grade" and the novel "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes.
Texas: The state’s Legislature renewed an ongoing debate over funding public schools versus allocating funds for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), an initiative championed by Governor Abbott. While ESAs would allow parents to use public dollars for private school tuition, critics argue that the move would divert essential resources from already underfunded public schools, which often serve a higher percentage of Black and low-income students.
City Board
Atlanta, GA: The Ron Clark Academy is working to help address Metro Atlanta’s struggles with a years-long teacher shortage after the state reported more than 3,000 open positions for the 2019-2020 school year.
Baltimore, MD: Maryland has released its 2023-2024 report card. Baltimore now has the fewest number of one-star-rated schools, suggesting that educational initiatives yield improvements.
Chicago, IL: As speculation swirls about whether Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez could be fired as soon as this week, nearly 700 administrators, including principals and assistant principals, are expressing support for their embattled boss.
Cleveland, OH: Judge Brian Mooney (D), a Cuyahoga County judge, has ruled against a planned drop-in center for students as young as 16 experiencing homelessness.
Jacksonville, FL: School choice applications are now open in Duval County amid the impending closure of three elementary schools next year.
Memphis, TN: The ‘School Board Five,’ a group of five leaders and activists, say they have reached an agreement with Memphis-Shelby County Schools after they were banned from public school board meetings during its superintendent search.
New York City, NY: In a surprise move, the city’s public schools that enrolled fewer students than projected will not see their budgets slashed midyear. Meanwhile, city officials said schools that enrolled more students than anticipated will still see their budgets adjusted and receive additional funding.
Philadelphia, PA: The Pennsylvania DOE’s recent decision to rescind guidelines on culturally relevant teaching practices has some Black educators in Philly worried about how this will impact teacher recruitment in highly diverse school districts.
St. Louis, MO: New state data shows that school enrollment in the city has plummeted in the last five years. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, school districts in St. Louis have lost nearly 11,000 students since the start of the pandemic.
College Board
The Chronicle of Higher Education examines the decline of Knoxville College, an HBCU in Tennessee that lost its accreditation nearly 30 years ago. Despite significant challenges, including deteriorating infrastructure and financial instability, dedicated alumni and leaders persist in efforts to revive the college.
Morgan State University, an HBCU in Maryland, has won its second case against Towson University for attempting to duplicate its doctoral program.
Hip-hop mogul Master P has been announced as the keynote speaker for the Spring Commencement at Grambling State University, an HBCU in Louisiana.
Florida A&M University has announced Malinda Williams, actress, author, and founder of the Arise And Shine Foundation, Inc., and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, as the keynote speakers for the 2024 Fall Commencement Ceremony.
Success Stories & Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old girl from Nigeria, has obtained $11.5 million in funding for her pioneering air filter system. The funding allocated by the Connecticut State Bond Commission will facilitate the installation of this system in state schools.
School Spotlight: Jackson State University has culminated an 87% graduation rate among active student-athletes, making the Mississippi-based college the highest-scoring HBCU on the NCAA report.
In Memoriam
This week, we honor the life and legacy of Medrick Burnett, a 20-year-old student and football player at Alabama A&M University who died last week after suffering a head injury in a game on October 26th. Burnett, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, California, joined Alabama A&M over the summer after starting his college career at Grambling State, according to the athletics department.
Every week, I hope this report serves as a resource for advocacy, awareness, and change. I value your stories, insights, and feedback, and I invite your perspectives in contributing to future issues of The Blackboard. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads. You can also find my work for Word in Black here.
Don't miss next week’s issue! Subscribe now for updates, and follow me on social media for daily news and insights on Black education and more.