Education Innovation

We advocate for equitable local, state, and federal policies that establish education standards, allocate resources, and set priorities for education and workforce systems.

In this section

The challenge

Every child deserves an opportunity to reach their full potential. But our education systems are collapsing under inequity, and it's mostly because of poverty. Students who experience severe economic obstacles perform worse than students who have access to more wealth.

To bridge these gaps and ensure that all children get a real chance at a fulfilling education, we need to address systemic racism and poverty as tangible barriers to learning and future achievement.

Every Black student deserves access to great teaching, equitable resources, and a safe learning environment from grade school classrooms to college campuses. Black students matter and working on their behalf has never been more urgent.

What we're fighting for

Cradle-to-career supports

Students need family and community engagement and resources that encourage physical and mental health for their overall well-being, which allows for stronger academic development. We work to expand access to high-quality learning experiences throughout the education continuum and accelerate community-driven approaches to build stable, enriching public education systems.

College and workforce success

We support students getting the education and skills development they need, so they can be successful on the job or in an academic environment. College costs should be affordable. Forgiving student loan debt and decreasing the overall cost of college is an economic imperative.

Racial justice in education

We need strategies and investments that build accountability to advance the success of children of color. Black children deserve to experience culturally relevant, student-centered learning — not extreme punishments or hallways staffed with police officers. We work to expand policies and interventions that equip families and communities to better support their kids' needs in school.

An end to the school-to-prison pipeline

Police officers don't make schools safer. But police presence in schools does increase the likelihood that Black students will be introduced to the legal system and then remain in it. In 43 states and the District of Columbia, Black students are more likely to be arrested than other students while at school — often with devastating effects to the child and their life trajectory.

Meet the Expert

Black Graduate Kissing Rolled-Up Diploma - Outdoors

What You Need to Know

Biden's Student Loan Debt Relief Plan has the potential to close the racial wealth gap because Black families are more likely to have student loan debt and less likely to have the resources to repay it. Our student loan forgiveness toolkit explains what Black people need to know to benefit from the plan.

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Cancel Student Debt

The student debt crisis has a disproportionate impact on Black borrowers and their families. Across all racial groups, Black borrowers hold the most student loan debt despite also being consistently underserved by postsecondary institutions.

President Joe Biden has canceled up to $20,000 in federal student debt for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers making less than $125,000 per year. The repayment pause is extended to June 30, 2023, but when payments restart, they will be capped at 5% of the borrower's monthly income.

You voted and rallied - and it's because of you we've seen this first step in student debt relief. Let's keep going.