Pastor Kyev Tatum’s Trailblazing Legacy as a Champion for School Choice in Texas from 1990 to 2025
AUSTIN, TEXAS – For over three decades, Pastor Kyev Tatum has been a relentless force for change in Texas, inspiring a movement that seeks nothing less than an educational revolution. Since 1990, Tatum has fearlessly advocated for public education reform, especially for Black and economically disadvantaged students who face systemic barriers at every turn. His mission is clear: empower parents, ignite opportunities, and transform a broken system that has consistently failed our children.
Tatum’s journey began in 1992, when he joined forces with a coalition to launch the Rearing Our Own To Succeed After School program, a lifeline for young people lacking resources and positive role models. Just three years later, in 1995, he founded a community center that became a beacon of hope for youth development. But Tatum’s bold vision did not stop there. In 2000, he chartered San Marcos’ first charter school, and in 2001, he opened Texas’ very first university-affiliated Boys & Girls Club, providing crucial support to kids in need.
Tatum’s impact continued to grow. By 2014, he pioneered the first-ever retail entrepreneurship program at Trimble Tech High School, preparing students for the future with real-world business skills. In 2021, he launched the Inner City Coffee Exchange, an international initiative providing youth with career opportunities in the specialty coffee industry. These initiatives exemplify Tatum’s unwavering belief in school choice as a key to breaking the chains of failure and injustice in education.
Tatum’s advocacy for school choice is rooted in a powerful belief: every child deserves a chance to succeed. This is not about opposing public schools, but about confronting the grim reality that too many Texas students—especially Black children—are trapped in a system that cannot or will not meet their needs. Texas has the largest population of Black students in the nation, yet these students face the highest failure rates, with some describing the school-to-prison pipeline as the modern-day plantation. The educational status quo has failed them, and Tatum refuses to accept this as the norm.
While the public education system clings to outdated practices, Tatum warns that Texas is heading for a collapse in its educational economy unless radical reforms are made. He points to the staggering mental health crises, dropout rates, and criminalization of Black youth, and calls for an urgent shift. Tatum’s message is clear: no more failure. No more lost potential. The time has come to put power back in the hands of parents and provide students with the choices they deserve.
Research overwhelmingly supports the efficacy of school choice—improving educational outcomes, disciplinary records, and developmental progress for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Yet, Texas has stubbornly refused to offer these opportunities to K-12 students, continuing to force families into underperforming schools. Tatum has called this policy what it is: discriminatory and destructive.
As the political tides shift in Texas, the push for school choice has gained unprecedented momentum. Governor Greg Abbott’s leadership on the issue and growing legislative support signal a potential breakthrough. The 89th Texas Legislature is poised to pass historic school choice legislation, giving parents the power to use public funds for private schooling, education savings accounts, and other educational needs. This could be the breakthrough Texas has been waiting for.
Tatum sees this moment as a historic opportunity—an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of those who’ve fought for school choice and create a more equitable and effective system for all students. He believes that embracing innovation, lifting bureaucratic red tape, and investing in future generations will not only improve educational outcomes but will also restore human dignity to those who have been marginalized.
His call for school choice is not just about policy—it’s about human rights. As he passionately states, “We declare our right on this earth…to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”
Pastor Kyev Tatum’s legacy as a tireless advocate for school choice has already shaped Texas’ educational landscape. As the 89th Legislature convenes, the choice is clear: will they honor the work of pioneers like Tatum and give every Texas child the opportunity they deserve? Or will they continue the status quo, allowing the future of Texas students to hang in the balance?
The time for change is now, and Texas’ future depends on it.
Comments
Post a Comment