Dr. King Acknowledged Public Schools Fail Our Children

Dr. King spoke about the injustices in public education. But there are some Black people who opposed school choice that gives Black parents and students the right to choose a better or preferred school to receive a free, fair and equitable education.

Don't our children deserve a free, fair and equitable education? 

Public education hasn't been supported, funded or allowed the autonomy of innovation as radical reforms seen through school choice. School vouchers are a resource that can help Black parents and students enter the school of choice they desire. Although there are challenges around this, better solutions such as more public school district offering non traditional school programs and increasing the number of Black male educators.

Our children not only need a quality education, but to receive it from teachers who look like them. As we're working on increasing the 2% of Black males in classrooms teaching across America, our Black community has to uplift and affirm the need for our children to be educated.

We cannot forget Brown vs the Board of Education. Black parents and communities must go beyond the surface and really flush out the issues addressed in the Brown vs the Board of Education. Systemically, educational institutions have had the biggest battle of equity in regards to how it services students who are not of the status quo because of race, religion, sexuality and those with physical and learning disabilities.

“[T]raditional public schools are not succeeding. In fact, let’s be clear, in many cases, they are failing. That’s helped people become more open to what were once considered really radical reforms—reforms like vouchers, tax credits, and education savings accounts.” 2013. - Betsy Devos 

Higher performing schools, whether private, public, public Charter, virtual or magnet schools, should provide more opportunities for all families regardless of income, race, religion, sexuality or learning ability to participate in the educational program.

Regardless, even if there are people who oppose school choice, it doesn't change our minds about the fact that public schools just aren't meeting the mark for Black children.  Regardless of if it's a traditional, charter, virtual school, etc,, educating Black children isn't rock science. It simply requires us to do it! Current data is reflecting how Black children are performing better academically in public charter schools.

School Choice is the Black Choice!   

I recommend to educational advocates and leaders to connect to information, resources on school choice. The work of family and community engagement helps stakeholders to be come informed and educated on school choice and the process. There are many Black families that can utilize this but don't know how to take advantage of it or that it's even available to them.

At the end of the day, we must remember and realize that every child has the right to a quality education, resources to succeed academically that meet any of their physical, mental, emotional, behavior disabilities, challenges, gifts or needs.

If school choice allows this to happen, then by all means, the Black community should be receptive to it!