Black Minds Matter – How School Choice Can Break Societal Inequities

It’s been almost five years since mask mandates and social distancing, but the consequences of the COVID-19 lockdowns are still having adverse effects on education.

In fact, in 2024, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), showed that not even half (43%) of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading. And for marginalized students, the numbers are much worse: just 17% of Black students, 21% of Latino students, 11% of students with disabilities, and 10% of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade.

School choice advocate Denisha Allen founded Black Minds Matter in the wake of COVID-19 to bring attention to the inequities in the education system that eerily resemble the institutional injustices of the American criminal justice system. A product of school choice, Denisha is often quoted as saying, “For Black lives to matter, Black minds must matter.”

Join Denisha and America’s Future for a virtual discussion about how school choice can help break societal inequities and generational poverty. The first 40 people who register will receive a Starbucks gift card on us to enjoy during the event, so be sure to reserve your spot on Eventbrite! Questions? Email Chloe at chloe@americasfuture.org.