NAGC Applauds White House Efforts to Further Desegregate Schools

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s new initiative to desegregate public schools and address other longstanding inequities in our public school system. Announced to mark the 70^th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, the Administration’s efforts include an infusion of $20 million in magnet school grant funding to further desegregate public schools, additional funding and resources to support greater diversity in schools, and providing school districts with the technical assistance they need to navigate more equitable approaches to education.

Although formal segregated schools were abolished seven decades ago, de facto segregation by race has increased by 64% over the last 35 years. We know that segregated schools, no matter how they come about, have negative impacts on the students they serve. Black and Latino students are already far less likely to be identified as gifted or high-ability. When we factor in the reduced funding and services that informal segregated schools tend to receive, it only further disenfranchises them from the high-quality education they deserve. 

The Administration’s investment of $20 million in new awards to the Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program was designed to further desegregate public schools by attracting students from diverse backgrounds. This critically needed funding will go a long way in addressing the lack of high-quality education opportunities for underrepresented and historically marginalized students. With an additional $139 million in proposed funding for fiscal year 2025, NAGC looks forward to working with the White House and Members of Congress to ensure this critical equity in education programs receives the funding it needs to grow and thrive.

Noting their strong commitment to supporting historically marginalized students, the Association calls on the Administration to continue the momentum and take its next step toward equity through increased proposed funding for Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program Grants. Javits grants, totaling a mere $16.5 million for the current fiscal year, are the only source of dedicated federal funding for gifted and talented students and are intended to reduce the same achievement gap the Administration aims to close. NAGC is requesting this critical program be funded at $32 million in fiscal year 2025.

As part of the Administration’s initiatives to desegregate schools, the U.S. Department of Education also released a new report detailing the inequities that exist for Black and Latino students accessing math, science, and computer science courses. NAGC urges the Administration to publicly support the Advanced Coursework Equity Act (H.R. 6328, S. 3729) to help address some of the issues outlined in the report. By creating an $800 million competitive grant program, this legislation will allow states and schools to address the gaps in enrollment in advanced courses through various mechanisms, such as universal screening, expanding advanced course availability, and covering advanced course student testing fees.

While we are many years removed from the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, we know that segregation and inequity in our schools continue to be a pervasive yet solvable problem. NAGC is encouraged by the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent actions to ensure equitable educational opportunities for our most vulnerable and marginalized students. We look forward to continuing our work with the Administration and Congress to support every student’s right to receive an equitable, high-quality public education.