by Quintessa Williams
This year, Black K-12 education faced a year of significant moments that shaped the overall educational environment for Black students nationwide. These events included the historic milestones, the navigation of course controversies, and the implementation of policies that directly affected Black students’ educational experiences.
From commemorating historic milestones to confronting contemporary controversies, these events, whether through progress or challenge, have influenced the experiences of Black students in the classroom in 2024.
1. The 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
On May 17, 2024, the nation observed the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
This commemoration, however, prompted a critical evaluation of how much — and how little — progress has been made since the 1954 ruling, which ended “separate-but-equal” policies in taxpayer-funded schools. Despite the ruling’s intent, more than a third of public school students attend schools where 75% or more of the student body are of a single race or ethnicity, and the Black-white education achievement gap persists. That’s led to ongoing debates about the effectiveness of desegregation efforts for Black students.
2. Laws Restricting the Teaching of AP African American Studies
In response to activists’ push to have Black history accurately taught in schools, conservative school officials pushed back with laws and restrictions designed to stifle open, fact-based classroom discussions about the roles of slavery and Jim Crow in American history. In July 2024, Richard Woods, Georgia’s state superintendent of schools, initially decided not to approve an AP African American Studies course for the state curriculum catalog, citing violations of the state’s “divisive concepts” law.
This decision triggered a withering backlash from educators, students, and civil rights groups, forcing the state to reconsider. Ultimately, Woods reversed his decision, and the state agreed to fund the course. However, the Georgia controversy exemplified the ongoing national discourse over including and representing African American history in the school curriculum.
3. Persistent Disparities in School Discipline
It’s been established that Black students face disproportionately high rates of suspensions and expulsions compared to their white peers, and reports in 2024 underscored the issue.
From examination into the harsh inequities faced by Black K-12 girls, specifically or overall racial disparities in discipline among Black students, these inequities have caused increased absenteeism, reduced academic performance, and contributed to the “school-to-prison pipeline,” adversely affecting Black students’ academic and future prospects. This year’s reports Mutiiple reports such as from The U.S. Government Accountabilty Office, The Herchinger Report, and The Associated Press highlighted the urgent need for systemic reforms to establish equitable disciplinary practices and foster supportive educational environments for Black students.
4. Racist Texts Sent to Black Students Post-Election
For months in the presidential race, Donald Trump unleashed racist attacks against Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to run at the top of a major party ticket. He openly questioned her Black identity, insisted she wasn’t intelligent, and often mispronounced her name.
Within days of Trump’s decisive victory over Harris on Nov 5, Black students across multiple states received anonymous racist text messages referencing slavery and directing them to report to “plantations.”
The texts, sent to grade-school and college students, prompted federal and state law enforcement investigations, including the FBI and the Justice Department. While no suspect has been identified — and no one knows how the perpetrators got the cellphone numbers of the students — the incidents raised alarms about a resurgence of overt racist intimidation targeting Black youth.
5. Nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education
In November 2024, just days after his win, Trump nominated Linda McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment, as education secretary. The move that raised eyebrows: while McMahon served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, she had no education policy credentials. She has been an outspoken advocate for school choice. Critics say her support for using taxpayer money to fund vouchers for kids to attend private school diverts badly needed funds from typically underfunded schools in Black communities.
Analysts say Trump likely chose her because of her loyalty and believe she’s likely to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Department of Education, one of the president-elect’s campaign promises. If that happens, it would have significant implications for the direction of federal education policy affecting Black K-12 students, sparking discussions about the future of public education and equity.