There Is a Hunger for School Choice: Advocating for Educational Equity for Black and Brown Texans.

 

There Is a Hunger for School Choice: Advocating for Educational Equity for Black and Brown Texans

AUSTIN, TEXAS – School choice advocates from across the state gathered in Austin to rally support for one of the most debated issues in education reform: universal school choice. At the opening session of the Texas Senate during the 89th Legislature, Governor Greg Abbott made it clear that school choice would be a top legislative priority this year.

Among the passionate voices in the gallery was Pastor Kyev Tatum of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church and the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas. Known as “The Voice of School Choice for Black Texans, Inc.,” Pastor Tatum has spent more than three decades advocating for educational equity at the Texas Capitol.

“This year appears to be our best chance to pass meaningful school choice legislation,” Pastor Tatum remarked. “For over thirty years, we have fought to give parents the power to make decisions about their children’s education. This year, we can finally make it happen.”

Why School Choice Matters for Black and Brown Texans

Research from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University reveals that a majority of Black parents support school choice, yet many Black legislators continue to uphold the current system. This disconnect has far-reaching implications for Black and Brown communities, particularly those stuck in underperforming public schools.

Pastor Tatum is blunt about the stakes. “We must pass school choice to help end the dropout factory and the school-to-prison pipeline,” he emphasized. For decades, under-resourced schools in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods have struggled to provide quality education, leaving many students ill-prepared for college, careers, or life beyond high school.

Breaking the Cycle of Inequity

Universal school choice provides families with the ability to choose the best educational setting for their children, whether that be public, private, charter, or home schools. For Black and Brown Texans, the implications are particularly profound:

1. Empowering Parents: School choice puts the power back in the hands of parents, allowing them to prioritize their child’s unique needs over bureaucratic red tape. This is especially critical for families in neighborhoods where public schools have historically underperformed.

2. Closing Achievement Gaps: Access to high-quality schools can help close long-standing racial achievement gaps. Studies have shown that school choice programs lead to higher academic performance and graduation rates for low-income and minority students.

3. Breaking Generational Poverty: Education is a proven pathway out of poverty. By giving families the ability to choose better educational options, school choice can disrupt cycles of generational poverty that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities.

4. Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Inequities in public schools often lead to disproportionate disciplinary actions against Black and Brown students, feeding into the school-to-prison pipeline. By expanding access to better educational environments, school choice can offer these students a lifeline.

Addressing Criticisms

Critics of school choice often argue that it drains resources from public schools and exacerbates segregation. However, proponents argue that the current system is failing too many students in marginalized communities. “We cannot continue to prioritize the system over the students,” Pastor Tatum said. “Our children deserve better now.”

Governor Abbott echoed this sentiment during the session, calling for a system that prioritizes children and their futures over political ideology. “No child should be trapped in a failing school simply because of their ZIP code,” Abbott declared.

Building a Coalition for Change

Pastor Tatum and other advocates are calling on Black and Brown Texans to rally behind universal school choice. This isn’t just about education; it’s about justice. “Our communities have been underserved for far too long,” he said. “School choice is a civil rights issue of our time.”

With momentum building at the Capitol and growing support among parents, advocates believe that 2025 could be a historic year for school choice in Texas. For Pastor Tatum, the fight continues. “This is our moment to stand together and demand what’s best for our children. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”

School choice is not just about providing options; it’s about ensuring every child has a fair shot at success. For Black and Brown Texans, universal school choice could be the key to unlocking a brighter future.