The NAACP Supports the Creation of a Daisy Bates Institute to Advance and Protect Public Education
WHEREAS, as of fall 2017, about 50.7 million students attended public elementary and secondary schools. Of these, 35.6 million were in prekindergarten through grade 8 and 15.1 million were in grades 9 through 12; and
WHEREAS, the percentage of children attending public schools continues to grow; in 2000, about 12 percent of American children went to private schools; today that number is closer to 10 percent. By 2021, it is predicted that private schools will enroll about 9 percent of preK-12 students, while public schools will enroll 91 percent; and
WHEREAS, as of the 2017 school year, 51.8% of all public school students were racial or ethnic minorities; and
WHEREAS, on average, 95 percent of all African American children attend public schools; and
WHEREAS, children of color in public schools continue to face problems because of their race or ethnicity including the fact that they are disciplined more often and more harshly; they are more likely to be involved in the school-to-prison-pipeline; they are less likely to be identified as gifted; they are more likely to go to schools in high poverty areas; they are less likely to have access to high quality teachers; and they are more likely to suffer from a lack of adequate resources, among other challenges; and
WHEREAS, African American and Latino children are increasingly becoming isolated from their white, affluent peers in the nation's public schools; and
WHEREAS, many of these challenges, and the impact of them on our children and our future as a nation, have been drawn out and discussed at Daisy Bates Education Summits throughout the years, as well as the most recent Summit, held in San Antonio, Texas, July 12, 2018 – July 14, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the NAACP is absolutely determined to eliminate the racial disparity in educational outcomes and ensure a high quality public education for all children by 2040. To achieve this critical goal, we will combine forces with the best in America's traditional public schools and the best in America's non-profit public charter schools to identify, share and promote the standards and best practices that lead to the quality of education that can make true equality possible. At the same time, we will demand an end to the operation of underperforming for-profit schools that put financial gain ahead of the needs of children.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP shall establish an institute to be deemed the preeminent education, advocacy and researching body, advancing and protecting public education as well as access and successful matriculation from Pre-K through higher education; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this shall be a policy institute dedicated to research and advocacy across the educational, civil rights and social justice spectrum, pertaining to sustaining a high quality and equitable public education system throughout the United States in service to all children and students generally, and African American children and students specifically, with a focus on those in predominantly underserved communities; and
THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this new body shall be known as the Daisy Bates Institute.