2nd Annual Poll Shows Black and Latino Parents and Families Continue to See Disparities in Education

WASHINGTON – Today, The Leadership Conference Education Fund and Anzalone Liszt Grove Research released the 2nd annual “New Education Majority” Poll. The poll explores how Black and Latino parents and families view the American education system’s success in educating their children.

The poll’s findings come at a critically important time for U.S. public education as states are currently developing education plans as part of their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). What’s clear about the process so far is that states are still not sufficiently responsive to the needs and desires of parents, families and communities of color.

Some of the key findings discussed include:

·         Perceptions of racial disparities remain strong among new education majority parents and families, and in some cases, are even more pronounced than last year.

o   The lack of funding for students of color is seen as the biggest cause of racial disparities in education, and racism has risen to become the second biggest driver among both African-American and Latino parents and families.

o   Parents and family members of color whose child’s teachers are mostly White are more likely to believe schools are “not really trying” to educate students of color than those with mostly Black or mostly Latino teachers.

·         New education majority parents and families continue to place a premium on high expectations and academic rigor for their children.

Some of the recommendations discussed include:

·         Remedying longstanding disparities in resources between schools and districts with more Black and Latino children and those with more White children.

·         Opening decision-making processes to Black and Latino families in ways that allow them to meaningfully participate so that their voices are heard, especially decisions regarding priorities and funding.

·         Removing barriers to participation and success in advanced courses for Black and Latino children. 

·         Inventorying resource distribution in schools and districts, including strong teachers and rigorous courses, to ensure Black and Latino children have their fair share.

·         Implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in a way that breaks down systemic barriers that have impeded Black and Latino children’s success and increases educational opportunity for all underserved children in the state.

The poll summary is available here.

The poll summary in Spanish is available here.

To download images of the data for use in stories click here.

To download images of the data in Spanish for use in stories click here.

A recording of today’s call is available here.

Wade Henderson, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: “Black and Latino parents know that their children aren’t getting the best education we can provide them. These results should be a clarion call for policymakers who must come to terms with the fact that for any education policy to be successful, it must be responsive to the needs of the children who make up a majority of public school students in America.”

The Leadership Conference Education Fund builds public will for federal policies that promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. The Education Fund’s campaigns empower and mobilize advocates around the country to push for progressive change in the United States. It was founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. For more information on The Leadership Conference Education Fund, www.leadershipconferenceedfund.org.