Youth Forum: Pathways to Equity: Overcoming Racial Disparities in Our Schools

In the 2nd youth led forum of the year, we will focus on how racial inequities in education are deeply entrenched in the American school system, affecting not just individual students but the broader landscape of educational achievement and opportunity.\r\n\r\nResearch shows that schools with higher concentrations of students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups are more likely to experience underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and limited access to advanced coursework and resources. This systemic inequality can contribute to lower graduation rates and diminished college and career readiness across the board, impacting the ability of schools to produce well-rounded, critical-thinking scholars.\r\n\r\nAccording to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, schools serving predominantly minority students receive roughly $23 billion less in funding each year than those serving predominantly white students. These disparities not only hinder the academic potential of individual students but also compromise the overall quality of education in America, limiting the nation's ability to cultivate diverse, informed, and capable leaders for the future.\r\n\r\nThis forum will dive into the root causes of these inequities, their impact on students of all backgrounds, and what can be done to create a more equitable and inclusive educational system.