It’s Time to Get REAL: A Policy Playbook to Demand Black Learner Excellence
Black student enrollment has disproportionately declined in recent decades, and racial disparities in college outcomes persist. During the past 20 years, the American higher education system has lost an estimated 600,000 Black learners. As the college-going gap widens, we must act now on behalf of Black learners. Otherwise, thousands of Black learners will continue to be excluded from the benefits of earning a valuable credential beyond high school. As a result, our communities and economies will suffer the effects of fewer residents with greater education. Improving Black student enrollment requires that we reaffirm the value proposition of postsecondary education for Black learners. When given equitable access to continued educational opportunities, Black students achieve upward economic mobility and academic and career success, and they contribute to meeting diverse workforce and economic needs.
This playbook is a call to action for key players—postsecondary institutions, state policymakers, federal policymakers, and community and business leaders—to uphold practices and policies that reinforce the value proposition of higher education for Black learners and dismantle the structures that function as barriers to Black learner success. It is a tool for all to use in their respective realms while elevating Black student voices. Each stakeholder group plays an important role in increasing postsecondary access and outcomes for Black learners.
To ensure the playbook serves as an actionable resource, it provides recommendations for each stakeholder group. Key players will gain an understanding of critical issues based on the research presented, acquire the tools needed to support Black learners, and begin to identify what steps they might take after viewing spotlighted examples.
To read the policy playbook, click here.
Postsecondary institutions, state policymakers, federal policymakers, and community and business leaders must uphold practices and policies that reinforce the value proposition of higher education for Black students in order to promote Black learner excellence.
