Obama administration hopes to help black students from 'cradle to career'

theGRIO REPORT - The Obama administration has launched the first steps of an ambitious plan to dramatically improve academic achievement among African-American students from the 'cradle to career'..

Donna Owens

Jul 31, 2012

“In the `60s, we saw solidly middle-class students who were the first in the family to get a college degree. But for some first-generation students, it seems harder than ever.”

Indeed, in the decades since the Brown v. Board of Education decision was meant to place America on a path toward educational equality, the school system has undergone significant transformation.

While many African-American students now attend integrated elementary, secondary schools and colleges, substantial obstacles to equal educational opportunity remain.

Various studies have shown that African-American students lack equal access to safe schools, and challenging curriculum such as college-preparatory classes. Other data shows that black students disproportionately experience school discipline and referrals to special education.

Moreover, an achievement gap continues to persist between African-American students and their peers. Data shows black students lag behind their domestic peers by an average of two grade levels, and more than a third fail to graduate from high school on time with a traditional diploma. An even greater number of African-American males do not earn traditional high school diplomas, a factor experts say contributes to higher incarceration rates.

“For too long, the experience of far too many African-American students in far too many places has been marred by school districts whose ongoing practices have failed our children,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous.

He joined Al Sharpton, members of Congress and educators who were present in the Oval Office, when president Obama signed the executive order.

If fully implemented, Jealous added, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans can meet its goals.

“Be it in Mississippi or Manhattan, North Carolina or South L.A., the data has shown – and too many family’s experiences have proven – that we still need the power of the federal government to ensure all our nation’s children are treated fairly,” he said.

The work of the initiative will begin in the coming weeks and months, said Jarrett.

“We’re seeking a cadre of experts. … we want to take a holistic approach,” she said.

While acknowledging that the issues are challenging, Jarrett said improving the educational outcomes of African-Americans will provide economic, social and other benefits for the black community and the nation.

“We can start to move the needle and begin making progress,” she said.