DEAD LAST: The Case for Universal School Choice in Texas. By Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

 

DEAD LAST: The Case for Universal School Choice in Texas. By Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas & The Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas Link: https://youtu.be/KcLmf6Mz9dA?si=PXRxmJ7jD18cpT8a

Texas is home to more Black Americans than any other state in the nation. Yet, despite our rich history, cultural influence, and economic contributions, our children—Black children—are failing in the very system meant to prepare them for success. The data is not just alarming; it is a crisis. More than 80% of Black students in Texas public schools are not reading at grade level. In every academic category, Black children in Texas come in dead last.

This reality forces us to confront a hard but necessary question: Is the problem with the students, or is it with the schools?

For decades, Texas has maintained a public education system that has failed to meet the needs of its most vulnerable students. Instead of fostering excellence, it has perpetuated cycles of underachievement, particularly in urban and low-income communities. Yet, when parents and advocates call for meaningful change—when we demand better options for our children—we are met with resistance from those who benefit from the status quo.

The truth is, Black Texans overwhelmingly support school choice. According to research conducted by Rice University, the University of Houston, and Texas Southern University, nearly 70% of Black Texans favor alternative education options, including public, private, charter, and home schooling. Families want the ability to choose the best educational environment for their children, not be forced into a failing system based on ZIP codes and bureaucratic inertia.

The Battle for School Choice in Texas

As a civil rights activist and advocate for education reform, I have been on the frontlines of this fight for decades. I have witnessed firsthand the resistance of Texas legislators, school board members, and powerful public education unions—many of whom claim to serve the interests of Black children but actively work to deny them better opportunities.

Rather than address the systemic failures that leave Black students at the bottom of every academic ranking, some in power have tried to silence reform advocates like me through public and legal retaliation. They have sought to label me a “sellout” for daring to demand equal access to quality education. But I am not for sale, and neither is the future of our children.

This fight is not about politics. It is not about personal gain. It is about justice. Educational justice.

Why School Choice Matters

Opponents of school choice argue that it weakens public education. But how can we weaken something that has already failed so many? How can we justify keeping our children trapped in schools where they are not learning—where they are set up to graduate without the skills needed to succeed in college, careers, or life?

School choice does not destroy public education; it forces it to be better. When families have the freedom to choose, schools must compete for students, and with competition comes innovation, accountability, and improved outcomes.

Consider these benefits of universal school choice:

• Academic Achievement – When students are placed in schools that meet their learning styles and needs, they perform better.

• Parental Empowerment – Parents—not the government—should decide where and how their children are educated.

• Economic Mobility – Education is the gateway to opportunity. If we do not provide quality education, we are complicit in economic oppression.

• Cultural Relevance – School choice allows families to select institutions that respect and reflect their values and heritage.

Bridging the Educational Divide

If Black Texans are going to move out of last place in academic achievement, we must take control of our children’s education. We must demand school choice for every family, regardless of income, neighborhood, or political affiliation.

This is not a partisan issue. It is a moral issue. It is a civil rights issue.

If we fail to act, if we continue to allow our children to be left behind, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. But if we stand together—if we demand real solutions, real choices, and real change—we can transform the future of education in Texas.

It’s time to help Texans read again. It’s time to ensure that every Black child, every child in Texas, has access to the education they deserve.

So help us God.