The Los Angeles Unified School District is adjusting its approach to the Black Student Achievement Plan by deciding not to include race as a determining factor for which students will benefit from the program. This decision follows a formal complaint filed in 2023 by a conservative group in Virginia, which argued that focusing support solely based on race violated constitutional principles.
Having collaborated with LAUSD on the Black Student Achievement Plan from the get-go, it’s clear that the initiative was born out of a pressing need highlighted by parents and community activists. They shed light on the district’s poor track record in catering to its Black students. In the wake of the George Floyd tragedy, the school board made a pivotal decision to reallocate part of its policing budget toward enhancing the educational experiences and achievements of Black students.
We stood by this initiative back then and firmly believe that its achievements underscore the need to maintain it, race consideration and all. The program’s impact stretches beyond just benefiting Black students; it enhances the learning environment for the entire school community.
The essence of LAUSD’s plan is to break the cycle of underperformance that has plagued Black students for so long. The plan aims for “high academic performance, robust social-emotional learning, and a strong cultural identity,” which are vital goals that should guide future efforts.
Since its launch, the program has sparked significant gains for Black students: an almost 5% rise in graduation rates from 2021 to 2022, an uptick in early literacy benchmark achievements by 11.4% for kindergarteners, and a reduction in chronic absenteeism by nearly 9% among high schoolers. Additionally, enrollment in Advanced Placement courses has jumped by 11%. These are successes worth acknowledging, and the district should stand proud of these achievements.
LAUSD has also strategically placed key staff, such as psychiatric social workers and pupil service attendants, in schools with high numbers of Black students. This ensures that mental health support and efforts to reduce absenteeism are readily available to all students at these schools.
The plan further champions hiring tutors for schools and classrooms with significant Black student numbers. Research backs the effectiveness of “high-dosage” tutoring, which involves regular, personalized sessions with trained tutors, and is proving to enhance student learning and academic growth. The district has also involved Black parents and caregivers while providing specialized professional development for teachers on educating Black students effectively.
Some might question why Black students warrant a targeted initiative, but there are similar programs for English language learners, students with disabilities, those without stable housing, foster children, and students from low-income homes.
Research consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted support, and initial data indicates that the tutoring component of LAUSD’s plan is succeeding. Outcomes show improvement, and more Black students are being placed in gifted programs and honors courses than before the plan existed.
Given these promising developments, it’s crucial that LAUSD preserves its Black Student Achievement Plan. Though laws like Proposition 209 and other recent legal decisions deem such initiatives as potentially unjust, the fact remains that federal guidelines still require schools to report student outcomes by race. This transparency helps track progress for all students, reinforcing the plan’s necessity due to historically underserved Black student populations.
Rather than backing down, LAUSD should champion the Black Student Achievement Plan, articulating its importance for Black students and the broader student body. The district should continue engaging closely with community members and grassroots groups that played a critical role in establishing the plan to ensure ongoing progress.
This program could well serve as a model for other districts across the nation striving to boost Black student success. Enhancing the performance of students traditionally left behind benefits the entire educational ecosystem. LAUSD ought to utilize every available resource to uphold the integrity of the Black Student Achievement Plan.
Tyrone C. Howard is a professor with UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies. Pedro Noguera serves as dean for the USC Rossier School of Education.
