K-12 Programming to Improve the Life Chances of African American Children

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, African American unemployment reached a historic low of 5.2% for Black women and 5.9% for Black men. Without a commitment to equipping African American children with the skills to act as participants in the American economy-specifically in the middle class or above-the pandemic had the potential to reverse some of these trends. Indeed, of note, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress's (NAEP, 2022) Assessment, student achievement among every student group has declined significantly, and the gap between Black students and White students remains significant. This book makes policy recommendations with the potential to remedy the disadvantages faced by Black students, particularly in low-income communities. The current narrative around finding answers to educating students of color has either a theoretical approach, such as critical race theory (CRT), or a cultural one such as culturally relevant teaching (CRT) or diversity equity inclusion (DEI). Using the Brookings Institute's Social Gnome 2.0 Model as its framework, this volume looks to provide a more specific and detailed approach to strategies that have worked on a small scale to help African American children gain the necessary education to thrive in adulthood.