Southern Education Foundation

Join for Education Policy in the South: 2024 Legislative Spotlight. The August 22 webinar gives an overview of the 2024 legislative sessions, education news across our states, and policy recommendations. Partners, lawmakers, and other stakeholders are invited to register at southerneducation.org/news .

SEF's Darian Burns and other education leaders and advocates spoke at a public hearing held by legislators recently on the AP African American Studies course controversy in Georgia. The state superintendent recently reversed his decision not to approve the course, but the law he cited is harming students and educators in the state. Learn more about this issue at southerneducation.org/news.

We applaud the Georgia state school superintendent's full reversal of his earlier decision not to approve AP African American Studies. We remain concerned about restrictive state laws that are negatively impacting students' education. Read our latest statement at www.southerneducation.org.

Georgia’s top superintendent pivots on AP African American Studies course Georgia students who pass the course will be entitled to college credit, an enhanced grade for admissions and state college scholarships.

We applaud the Georgia state school superintendent's full reversal of his earlier decision not to approve AP African American Studies. We remain concerned about restrictive state laws that are negatively impacting students' education. Our latest statement: https://southerneducation.org/in-the-news/georgia-should-allow-ap-course-in-african-american-studies/

How can those of us focused on racial equity in education and philanthropy make a greater impact and do our part to guide the nation toward justice? One way, according to SEF COO Dr. Kenita Williams, is to challenge one another to find more ways to build, support and expand research-based leadership programs focused on racial equity in education. Hear more about leadership for education equity from Dr. Williams in Grantmakers for Education’s latest Member Insights.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/member-insights-leadership-education-equity-jcrqc/?trackingId=AuqI2LFCLnD%2FZ2ZGIGlTZQ%3D%3D

JOIN US TODAY! The decision by the state superintendent and Georgia State Board of Education to refuse full approval of the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course is the latest evidence of the “divisive concepts” law’s harmful impact on classroom instruction in Georgia. The law is a needless distraction for educators dedicated to their students’ academic success. Join SEF and several equity-focused partners today, for a community forum to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the AP African American Studies course in our state curriculum. Sign up to keep up with this issue and others at southerneducation.org/news.

The decision by the state superintendent and Georgia State Board of Education to refuse full approval of the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course is the latest evidence of the “divisive concepts” law’s harmful impact on classroom instruction in Georgia. The law is a needless distraction for educators dedicated to their students’ academic success. Join SEF and several equity-focused partners tomorrow, August 7th at 6 PM, for a community forum to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the AP African American Studies course in our state curriculum. Sign up to keep up with this issue and others at southerneducation.org/subscribe. ACLU, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Georgia Federation of Teachers, Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Partnership for Southern Equity, Urban League of Greater Atlanta

Join for Education Policy in the South: 2024 Legislative Review. The August 22 webinar gives an overview of the 2024 legislative sessions, education news across our states and policy recommendations. Advocates, lawmakers, and key partners are invited to register: southerneducation.org/news .

Join us in celebrating this year’s recipients of the Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award, Bryan Sorto Hernández and Blake Benton.

Sorto Hernández, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, worked this summer with Every Texan in Austin, Texas. He contributed to the organization’s mission of ensuring a state where race and ethnicity no longer predict Texans’ well-being, opportunities, and outcomes.

Benton, a student at Eastern Kentucky University, worked with the Prichard Committee, contributing to its work of promoting improved education for all Kentuckians.

In remembrance of Ginny Looney, the late Atlanta-based attorney, this award is granted to exceptional fellows of the Southern Education Leadership Initiative who demonstrate exemplary service during their fellowship.

Just days from the start of a new school year, Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods has declined to approve the Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high school students. The decision will result in unequal learning opportunities for students across the state, because the course will only be available in school districts that can afford to offer it on their own. We call on the state superintendent to think better of his decision and its impact on Georgia’s students of all backgrounds. He should reverse this decision immediately. Read more at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This year, we continue to mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Despite progress in many areas of education, there’s much work to do to fulfill Brown’s promise of equal opportunity through quality education. Stay up to date on legislative issues in education by reading SEF’s The Bottom Line: southerneducation.org/bottomline

National Center for Families Learning President and CEO Dr. Felicia C. Smith and SEF’s Fred A. Jones, Jr. discuss .

In a previous edition of "At the Heart of Family Learning," NCFL President and CEO Dr. Felicia C. Smith sat down with Fred A. Jones, Jr., of the Southern Education Foundation to discuss SEF's work, their new network dedicated to , and the challenges Jones envisions on the road ahead.

Read it here: https://ow.ly/ITOZ50SCCQs

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Hanora Tracy. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in sociology at Tulane University. She received a B.A. in Psychology and Black Studies before and taught for a year in upstate New York. Hanora spent her SELI fellowship with the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia Law School.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

Did you know that students from low-income families are five times more likely to drop out of high school compared to their higher-income peers? This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for equitable resources and support systems in our schools. The Equity Assistance Center-South at SEF is dedicated to bridging the equity gap in education. Visit the resource center for tools and tips on building equity in the classroom. https://eacsouth.org/resources/

The United States accomplished an impressive feat in 2020-21: enacting federal policy reforms that halved child poverty and uplifted low-income families amidst a global pandemic. We saw it was possible, but now we need to investigate how to make it permanent. The recently released report, “Cutting Child Poverty in Half and More: Pandemic-Era Lessons From Child and Family Advocates and Organizers” (https://bit.ly/3VFy2Nj) discovered five lessons after interviewing more than 30 advocates and leaders who helped made this change happen. Join the Foundation for Child Development’s upcoming webinar reflecting on these lessons and discuss what we need to do next. Mark Your Calendar: Thurs, July 11 | 2 PM ET Event Details: Register: bit.ly/FCDLessonsWebinar

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Brooke Blacknall. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Spelman College. Brooke is serving at the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), a nonprofit providing leadership for a statewide movement on quality early learning development for all children ages birth through five.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Kelli Crews. She is a second-year master’s student at the University of Georgia studying Educational Administration and Policy and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, also from the University of Georgia. Kelli is placed at VOX ATL this summer and is helping administer the annual survey regarding mental health and the after-school activities of teens.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

As we celebrate July 4th, our nation still has miles to go to truly live up to the promise of freedom. The Southern Education Foundation’s forthcoming report, Miles to Go: The State of Black Education in America, will present an overview of education data on Black students in the U.S. and highlight key challenges, opportunities, and the path forward. Read the preview at southerneducation.org.

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Justice Hatcher. She is a senior at Duke University studying Public Policy with a minor in Economics. In her senior year, she will also complete the requirements to receive her K-6 Teacher’s License. Justice is placed at the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED). CREED is a nonprofit working to close opportunity gaps in North Carolina schools through research and technical assistance.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort includes fellows from 11 colleges and universities across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year’s 14 SELI fellows are working in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

The Washington Post shows how many students still need extra academic support, but federal pandemic-relief funds to pay for such support are ending: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/07/01/math-learning-loss-pandemic-recovery/

SEF’s Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) program offers some solutions. SEF President Raymond Pierce recently detailed in his regular column for Forbes how southern states (and others) could become leaders in this innovation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/raymondpierce/2024/03/01/southern-school-districts-leading-the-way-in-covid-learning-recovery/

How did we reduce child poverty during the pandemic? Join the Foundation for Child Development’s upcoming webinar webinar on Thurs, July 11 at 2 PM ET to find out and discuss how we can sustain these gains. Register: bit.ly/FCDLessonsWebinar

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Bryan Sorto-Hernández. He is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Human and Organizational Leadership Development, Public Policy, and Spanish for the Legal Professions. Bryan is working this summer with Every Texan, a nonprofit organization based in Austin that advocates for policies to improve equity in food security, financial security, healthcare, and education.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort includes fellows from 11 colleges and universities across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year’s 14 SELI fellows are working in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

SEF’s Director of Research and Policy Max Altman recently joined the Education Knowledge Broker Network’s first webinar with practicing knowledge brokers. Visit southerneducation.org/in-the-news/ to watch the full video and learn about the growing community of professionals working across research and practice boundaries to foster knowledge exchange to support educational change and improvement. Education Knowledge Broker Network

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Karen Xu, a senior at Duke University studying public policy, with minors in education and journalism. Karen is serving at The Parents’ Campaign, a Mississippi-based education nonprofit dedicated to strengthening public schools through parent advocacy. At Duke, Karen serves as president of the Marching & Pep Band and volunteers in the Canine Cognition Lab where she helps raise service dogs. She also is a contributing writer and photography editor for The Chronicle, Duke’s independent student newspaper. Karen believes in journalism as a catalyst for change by highlighting critical issues in education, inspiring meaningful action, and ensuring legislative accountability.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Tyler Mathieu. He is a junior at Morehouse College majoring in educational studies and philosophy, and he plans to continue his education until he earns a doctorate in educational administration and policy. Tyler serves the Griffin-Spalding County Schools in Georgia, analyzing data, conducting assessments of district policies, and researching ways to improve racial equity in the district. He is passionate about changing the outcomes and possibilities for students with a socioeconomic disadvantage and believes education is the most powerful tool one can have.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

Today, we uplift policy discussions that emphasize the importance of resource equity for historically underserved communities. Read the Bottom Line: State and Legislative Updates from the Southern Education Foundation.

The Bottom Line The Weekly Bottom Line provides a regional overview of recent significant state actions around education policies that impact students throughout the South. Lawmakers, advocates, parents, and families use this resource to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in education-related legislative updates,...

A growing number of studies are finding that community schools can benefit students on a range of academic outcomes -- and potentially specific benefits for students of color. Read more in this preview of SEF’s forthcoming report, ‘Miles to Go: The State of Black Education in America.’ The report will explore an array of education data on Black students are faring in the U. S., including some of the key challenges, opportunities, and the path forward. https://southerneducation.org/what-we-do/milestogo2024/

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Tania Trejo-Mendez. She holds a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in history from Emory University in Atlanta. Tania is serving at LatinxEd, an education initiative in North Carolina that provides targeted, multi-year support to Latinx students and immigrant families striving for higher education and greater socioeconomic opportunity.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.

Meet 2024 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) fellow Joshua ‘Blake’ Benton. He is an undergraduate student at Eastern Kentucky University working on a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology and a minor in data science and statistics. Blake is serving at the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in his home state, a non-profit organization that engages a wide array of Kentuckians in the work to improve education and remove barriers to student success.

Now in its 20th year, SELI is an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that offers intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowships for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education at all levels. The 2024 cohort represents 11 institutions across the nation, including four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the fellowship, this year’s 14 SELI fellows work in nonprofits, state agencies, school districts, and universities on issues related to education equity. Visit southerneducation.org/seli to learn more.