Policy Recommendations
By Kelly Mikel Williams
Education has always been seen and touted as the vehicle of equality and the foundation that allows all Americans to achieve their greatest potential. It has at times been described as the “great equalizer,” suggesting that if one just gets an education, their path to success is guaranteed or at least easily attainable. Throughout the sessions of the conference, it was very evident that there were going to be some challenges to that theory. Inequality in education persists in spite of important decisions like Brown v. Board of Education and other significant court cases. Inequality persists in the face of the popular belief that, “we (as in American society) have come a long way.” Inequality exists at all levels of education.
Many people want to believe that education levels the playing field of life and society. The presenters challenged this belief, claiming it is a myth. The reality is that since the establishment of Harvard, the first university in America in 1638, education has been a great divider and not the great equalizer we have been led to believe. To this day, September 2017, education has continued to be a source of segregation, division and racial inequality.
Tentative Proposals and Recommendations for Empower West Chapters
So, what are some of the solutions to achieving this endeavor? First, the chapters of Empower West should embark upon a series of committee sessions to evaluate the state and local laws in Alabama that allow communities to secede from the larger community and establish their own school districts to exclude black and brown students. Secondly, the committee must evaluate whether or not the state has any historical restrictions barring it from segregating its school districts as a result of Brown v. Board of Education, other court rulings or the1965 Civil Rights Act. These laws may certainly be on the books as a result of historic racial discrimination especially in the school systems. Thirdly, upon finding any such legislation or proposed legislation, the committee must address it head-on with community support and political pressure to reverse legislation or kill proposed legislation. And lastly, the committee must establish its own legislation to protect the future of black students seeking that sliver of opportunity that education is supposed to provide, who hope that completion of their education will help them to stand on the basis for our Declaration of Independence— “..with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Reference Links:
State of Kentucky Charter School Legislation education.ky.gov/CommOfEd/chartsch/Pages/default.aspx
State of Kentucky Dept. of Educations Strategic Plan and Research education.ky.gov/CommOfEd/CDU/Pages/Delivery_Home.aspx
State of Kentucky Dept of Education Legislative Structure education.ky.gov/legis/Pages/default.aspx
State of Kentucky Dept of Education School Districts education.ky.gov/dist/Pages/default.aspx
State of Kentucky Education Bill Tracking www.ncsl.org/research/education/education-bill-tracking-database.aspx
List of new Education Laws for State of Kentucky www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article144673599.html
State of Kentucky Legislature – Research Bill analysis and track through State Legislature lrc.ky.gov
State of Kentucky Legislature – How a Bill becomes Law lrc.ky.gov/legproc/how_law.htm
