Vernon Billy
May 15, 2014

Vernon Billy

Vernon Billy

Every bit the showtime African-American to serve equally the CEO and Executive Manager of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), 1 of the nation'south oldest (at 83 years) and largest school board associations, I discover special significant in the 60th anniversary today of the celebrated Supreme Court decision in Brownish v. Board of Educational activity. My educational and professional person achievements stand up, in part, on the foundation and sacrifices made by the heroes of the Civil Rights Motion and because of this ruling that outlawed "separate just equal" facilities for students in public schools and reaffirmed the important office of education in our club.

The 1954 Dark-brown decision, which celebrates its sixtythursday ceremony on May 17th, is arguably 1 of the about of import Supreme Court rulings of the 20th century. It struck a fatal blow to legal segregation in America, and simultaneously elevated the notion that education could be the "great equalizer" for our nation's students regardless of their race or socioeconomic groundwork. The Brown decision alleged that public education is the foundation of practiced citizenship and the principal instrument that prepares children for success in life – making admission to expert schools "a right which must be made available to all on equal terms."

This proclamation all the same rings true today.

Since Dark-brown, many things have inverse in our educational system and gild, but unfortunately some things are yet the same. Many of our schools and communities remain segregated, admitting for a multiplicity of reasons. A contempo report from UCLA'due south Civil Rights Project establish that nationwide, blackness and Latino students tend to be in schools with a substantial bulk of poor children, while white and Asian students typically attend heart form schools.

Students of colour are disproportionately suspended from schools and significant accomplishment gaps persist betwixt African American and Latino students and their white and Asian counterparts. In addition, some in our society go along to struggle with the upshot of race, and the thought of investing in students of color to provide them with an equal opportunity to larn. As such, the equity dreams manifested in the Brown conclusion are still merely that – dreams – and crave much more endeavor from us all if they are to exist realized.

We commemorate the Brown decision at a fourth dimension when there is a resurgence in discussions about disinterestedness, opportunity and accountability every bit school districts throughout California implement the first year of the Local Command Funding Formula (LCFF). All students deserve a chance to succeed, and LCFF presents a renewed opportunity to focus on improving student outcomes and increasing communication between our schools and community.

Today, equally we keep to create a better educational system that truly embraces the promise of opportunity for all students, it is critical that educators and policymakers (including schoolhouse board members) understand how the actions of our predecessors – as well equally their lack of action – impacted a generation of students lx years ago, so we don't echo the mistakes of the past.

I believe that one of the truths embedded in the Brown decision is that if we believe every kid can learn, and then we must act "with all deliberate speed" to requite them an equal opportunity to learn. Together nosotros must work to understand the challenges facing students then nosotros tin identify and invest in the programs and resources necessary to meet their needs and close the achievement gap.

When this occurs, nosotros produce great Americans and expand our intellectual, political, entrepreneurial, scientific and cultural net worth in ways that nosotros cannot withal imagine.

The next Dr. Charles Drew, U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez, astronaut Mae Jemison, Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Steven Chu, Supreme Courtroom Justice Thurgood Marshall, or President Barack Obama is sitting in a California classroom. It is upward to u.s. to ensure that the decisions we make create opportunities for all of these students to succeed and to alive upward to their potential.

Without question, we are a stronger, better educated, and I would debate more tolerant nation threescore years after the Brown conclusion, yet our work is not done. So, let's honor the struggles and contributions of our Civil Rights heroes like Justice Marshall, and by remembering this of import anniversary and committing ourselves to ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to acquire in a resource-rich schoolhouse environment that does not discriminate, but uplifts students to be the future leaders we know they tin become.

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Vernon G. Billy is CEO and Executive Director of the California School Boards Association.

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