Chart a New Course, Level the Field with School Choice.

Chart a New Course, Level the Field with School Choice. By Pastor Kyev Tatum, New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth and Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS- Education is the great equalizer—yet too many Black children in Texas are stuck in a system that sets them up for failure. Instead of providing them with the tools to succeed, we force them to navigate underfunded schools, harsh disciplinary policies, and unsafe learning environments. It’s time to break free from this cycle and chart a bold new course—one that gives every parent the power to choose the best education for their child.

The Reality: A System That Fails Black Students

The numbers speak for themselves. Black students in Texas face some of the highest academic failure rates in the country. They are nearly twice as likely to be suspended or expelled as their white peers, often for minor infractions, fueling the school-to-prison pipeline rather than preparing them for success.

Beyond academics, many Black children endure unsafe learning environments, plagued by bullying, violence, and unaddressed trauma caused by poverty, family instability, and community hardships. How can we expect children to thrive when their schools are failing them at every turn?

We wouldn’t accept these conditions for any other group of children. So why do we continue to accept them for ours?

The Answer: Level the Field with School Choice

Texas parents already have the freedom to choose pre-K programs through Child Care Management Services (CCMS) and students can use Pell Grants to attend the college of their choice. So why are K-12 families denied the same choice?

School choice is about fairness and freedom. It ensures that every child—regardless of race, income, or ZIP code—has access to a safe, high-quality education that meets their needs. A bold and comprehensive school choice policy should:

✔ Empower parents to choose the best education for their children—whether that’s a public school, charter school, private school, or homeschooling.

✔ Hold all schools accountable for delivering high-quality education, no matter their funding source.

✔ Expand opportunities for historically disadvantaged students, breaking cycles of generational poverty and academic neglect.

Texas Must Lead—Our Kids Can’t Wait

Texas has an opportunity to be a national leader in educational freedom. By expanding school choice while ensuring public schools remain strong, we can create a system where no child is left behind simply because of where they live.

This Is a Fight for Justice

The fight for school choice is a fight for equality. Black children and all disadvantaged students deserve the same access to opportunity as their peers.

It’s time to chart a new course and level the playing field for school choice in Texas. No more waiting. No more excuses. Our children deserve better—NOW.