The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence recently hosted a week-long series of discussions on racial equity in Kentucky’s public schools. The series, titled Black Minds Matter, focused on formulating solutions on how to close academic achievement gaps and postsecondary attainment gaps between African American students and their peers at the state and local levels.
“Through this series on racial equity in education we focused on solutions – specifically finding ways that policymakers, educators, parents, students, and communities can work together to ensure we are delivering on the promise of public education for each and every student,” said Prichard Committee President and CEO Brigitte Blom Ramsey. “In 2015, 45 percent of our entering African American students were reported fully ready for kindergarten, but by 2019, we had equipped only 30 percent of them to score proficient or above in K-PREP reading.”
Blom Ramsey says Kentucky education data also show that our education system isn’t preparing Black students for college and career at the same rate as their White peers.
“In 2019, there was a 32.5 percent gap between Kentucky White and Black students on transition readiness,” she said. “This is clearly a failure of our system to deliver the education that our Black students need to thrive in our economy, and we must collectively own our truths in order to address this inequity.”
Ways to take action
The first installment in a series of Community Toolkits from the Prichard Committee is also available for download. It details what Kentuckians can do in their own communities, schools and districts to help to support the unique needs of students and put an end to systemic barriers that serve to hold students back.
The Prichard Committee has formalized a standing coalition for Equity in Education: Early Childhood through Postsecondary. The coalition will be open to all citizens interested in repair longstanding failures to deliver educational excellence for students who have been marginalized or historically disadvantaged by our systems. An online signup form is available at prichardcommittee.org/equity-coalition.
Black Minds Matter blog posts
- Access to equitable education can be a game-changer for Kentucky’s Black students
- Belief gaps, Black history curriculum and Kentucky’s need for teachers of color addressed during second day of series
- Urgency needed to close KY’s racial academic achievement gap
- Delivery for Black students declines along Kentucky’s learning “pipeline”
- College credentials show Kentucky is not equipping enough Black students for success
- Reducing Gaps so Gifted Children Can Thrive
Black Minds Matter Video Conversations
One-on-One: Mandy McLarenA live conversation with Mandy McClaren, former teacher & current education reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Black Minds Matter: Interview with O.J. OlekaA live conversation with Dr. O.J. Oleka, executive director of the Association for Independent Colleges & Universities and co-founder of AntiRacismKY.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Tuesday, June 23, 2020
One-on-One: Interview with Jonathan PluckerPosted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Innovations in Education: Racial Equity in SchoolsWednesday’s episode of Innovation in Education, featuring Dr. Aaron Thompson of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Dr. Soraya Matthews, Kentucky educator, Dr. John Marshall, JCPS, and Dr. Lynn Jennings from the Education Trust,.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Black Minds Matter: One-on-One with Renee ShawPrichard Committee President & CEO Brigitte Blom Ramsey interviews KET - Kentucky Educational Television's host Renee Shaw about racial equity.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Wednesday, June 24, 2020
One-on-One Interview: Donovan PinnerHopkinsville High School & Morehouse graduate Donovan Pinner is a community activist in Western Kentucky.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Thursday, June 25, 2020
Kentucky students discuss implicit biasKentucky high school and college students discuss implicit bias experiences in the classroom as part of our #BlackMindsMatter discussions.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Thursday, June 25, 2020
Black Minds Matter: Live with the Louisville Urban LeagueBrigitte Blom Ramsey interviews Sadiqa Reynolds and Kish Price from the Louisville Urban League.
Posted by Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence on Thursday, June 25, 2020
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