Abstract

Abstract

  • Importance of Black student achievement as a national priority.

  • Need for Black Student Achievement Programs (BSAPs) focused on African American history, culture, language, knowledge, and values.

  • BSAPs aim to connect home and community for Black students in K-12 settings.

  • Educators play a vital role in building and sustaining BSAPs.

1. Why We Can’t Wait

  • Reference to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s book emphasizing urgency in addressing racial injustice.

  • Advocacy for nonviolent protest and immediate action.

  • Importance of civil disobedience and moral responsibility in confronting systemic oppression.

  • Call for immediate efforts towards educational justice for Black students.

2. Introduction: Emphasizing Black Student Achievement

  • Current indecision surrounding curriculum and academic services for marginalized students, particularly Black, Brown, and Indigenous children.

  • Continued intergenerational poverty affecting educational opportunities.

  • Data indicates persistent academic achievement gaps for Black students.

  • Acknowledgement and support for the mission of the National Black Student Achievement Association (NBSAA).

3. What We Need, but Only Some of Us Receive It

  • Historical inequities in education for Black Americans.

  • The promise of equal education remains unfulfilled; many Black children fell furthest behind post-COVID-19.

  • Supreme Court decision on affirmative action impacting higher education access for Black students.

  • Legislative actions undermining K-12 public education.

  • NBSAA's commitment to fostering success for Black students through targeted services.

4. Methodology: A Call for BSAP Standards

  • Development of BSAPs to address historical academic disparities and miseducation of Black children.

  • Examples of districts (e.g., Los Angeles Unified) investing in BSAP initiatives.

  • Emphasis on research-based standards to support Black student achievement through categorical analysis in the meta-analysis.

5. Objective: Centering Culture, Language, Knowledge, and Values

  • BSAP standards to intentionally center African American culture in education.

  • Acknowledgment of historical policies that have marginalized Black voices in education.

  • Commitment to African American cultural sustainability through academic achievement.

Standard 1: Service Design

  • Importance of effective service design for Black students.

  • Service Design Standards:

    • 1.a Professional Development: Enhance teacher training on strategies for Black student achievement.

    • 1.b Budget and Resources: Allocate resources to support Black student programs.

    • 1.c Data and Communication: Share academic performance data with stakeholders.

Standard 2: Curriculum and Instruction

  • Curriculum and instruction must reflect African American culture, history, and voices.

  • Curriculum and Instruction Standards:

    • 2.a Culturally Sustainable Curriculum: Develop relevant and sustaining curriculum.

    • 2.b Integrated and Interdisciplinary: Ensure integration of content across subjects.

Standard 3: Scholar Identity

  • Emphasis on developing Black students' identities as scholars.

  • Scholar Identity Standards:

    • 3.a Development: Foster agency and identity among Black students.

    • 3.b Bell-to-Bell Identity Development: Support all students while focusing on marginalized individuals.

Standard 4: Social-Emotional Needs

  • Addressing social-emotional health is critical for Black students.

  • Social-Emotional Standards:

    • 4.a TSEL Competencies: Implement transformative social and emotional learning.

    • 4.b Positive Behavior Interventions: Promote supportive interactions for all students.

    • 4.c Case Management: Provide comprehensive support services for well-being.

Standard 5: Home and Community

  • Integration of home and community into student achievement programs is crucial.

  • Home and Community Standards:

    • 5.a Family Advisory Committee: Engage families to support student achievement.

    • 5.b Professional Development for Families: Train families on supporting Black student success.

    • 5.c Student Advisory Committee: Involve students in program design.

    • 5.d Curriculum Integration: Connect classroom learning with home and community contexts.

Standard 6: Partnerships

  • Building alliances to support Black student achievement is essential.

  • Partnership Standards:

    • 6.a Advisory Committee: Foster partnerships with public and private sectors.

    • 6.b Mentorship Programs: Develop mentorship pathways for career readiness.

6. Conclusions

  • The urgent need for dedicated efforts toward Black student achievement cannot be understated.

  • Historical context of educational inequalities and structural racism that still affects Black families.

  • Call to action for communities and organizations to support and sustain efforts in Black student achievement.