By Fajr Eutsey College is a time of significant transitions. Students are stepping out of their comfort zones, making hard decisions and learning to balance independence with responsibility. That growth can be exhilarating, but it can also be overwhelming. The holiday season, with its mix of family expectations, financial pressures and cultural traditions, often magnifies […]
Tag: Black students
Posted inWord In Black
Fewer Black students missing school as attendance slowly rebounds
Chronic absenteeism in U.S. K–12 schools is gradually declining, and a new EdTrust report suggests rates could be cut in half within five years if states continue expanding early interventions, tutoring, and wraparound supports. The improvements are especially significant for Black students, who remain disproportionately affected but are seeing progress as states adopt data-driven strategies and invest in student well-being.
Posted inEducation
Pell Grant cuts helped lower Black college enrollment, report says
A new report links cuts and inconsistencies in Pell Grant funding to a nearly half-million drop in Black college enrollment over the past decade, with Southern HBCUs hit hardest. Researchers urge federal and state leaders to stabilize Pell funding to ensure equitable access to higher education.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: I beat the odds and made it to law school – others won’t get the chance
Olabisi Omoniyi-Alake, a Henry A. Wallace Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and incoming Georgetown Law student, reflects on the financial and systemic challenges marginalized students face in pursuing legal education. She warns that the 47th president’s plan to eliminate Grad PLUS loans will shut the door for many low-income students and further reduce diversity in law schools.
Posted inEducation
Reading the room: Why Black kids need more than the norm
Diana Greene, CEO of the Children’s Literacy Initiative, argues that Black students’ reading struggles stem from socioeconomic barriers like poverty, food insecurity and chronic absenteeism rather than instructional methods alone. She advocates for a holistic, equity-driven approach that supports early literacy, family engagement and addressing students’ basic needs to create lasting improvements in reading proficiency.
Posted inCommentary
Bringing Black studies to Black people
Stanford University professor Adam Banks regularly commutes 5,000 miles to teach free college-level African American studies classes to the Black community in Cleveland, his hometown, to build community and connect people with one another.
Posted inCivil Rights
Ringing the alarm for civil rights data in schoolsÂ
The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is a critical tool for identifying and addressing disparities in educational access and equity in America’s schools, and advocates are fighting to protect it from being dismantled by the Trump administration.
Posted inEducation
Black students are punished more, then expected to succeed
Two recent reports reveal that disproportionate disciplining of Black children is linked to academic disparities, with Black students facing higher rates of disciplinary actions and experiencing a widening achievement divide compared to their White peers.
Posted inEducation
Experienced educators discuss how the president’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education would impact minority students
The Department of Education plays a crucial role in regulating national education standards and programs for minority, disabled, and impoverished students, and dismantling it could impact the education of vulnerable students in the United States.
Posted inU.S. Government
Recent executive orders raise concern about future of Department of Education and students nationwide
Donald Trump’s threat to dismantle the Department of Education has raised concerns about the impact on the nation’s most vulnerable students, particularly Black students who are already underrepresented and face systemic racism in education.
Posted inEducation
How to make report cards less stressful for students
Teachers can make report card time a positive and supportive experience for Black students by encouraging open and affirming conversations, setting realistic and personalized goals, providing access to resources and support networks, and fostering a positive growth mindset.
Posted inBooks
Six culturally relevant holiday books to add to your gift list
This holiday season, consider gifting Black K-12 students books that celebrate Black heritage, provide a sense of belonging, and inspire them to make a difference in their communities.