Social Justice: Dangers & Expectations | The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People

Social Justice: Dangers & Expectations | The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People

Social Justice: Dangers & Expectations

In the mid-1800’s, an Italian Jesuit gave rise to the phrase “social justice.” But today, its use as a political wedge leaves its meaning unclear to many. It’s meaning is based on Italian theologian “Thomas Aquinas’ idea that, in addition to doing the right thing, we should strive to do what is necessary for the betterment of others.” Five Principles of Social Justice, Kent State.

As viewed through its religious origin, social justice is based on moral uprightness (rectitude).

Social Justice: Born from Revolution

When economic inequality produced economic distress, the resultant turmoil of the French Revolution birthed the social justice concept. Over time, its meaning began to vary based on “political orientation, religious background, and political and social philosophy.” Therefore, speaking in general terms, social justice is the concept “that people have equal rights and opportunities; everyone … deserves an even playing field.” Tricia Christensen

America’s Declaration of Independence proclaimed that “all men are created equal.” But that declaration is merely the foundation for the promise of America.

“…  the Declaration of Independence … was a call for the right to statehood rather than individual liberties, says Stanford historian Jack Rakove. Only after the American Revolution did people interpret it as a promise for individual equality.” Stanford News

Thus, America’s journey towards CONTINUE READING: Social Justice: Dangers & Expectations | The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People

A 30-year Fight for School Funding Equity Ends in a Resounding Victory | Schott Foundation for Public Education

A 30-year Fight for School Funding Equity Ends in a Resounding Victory | Schott Foundation for Public Education

A 30-year Fight for School Funding Equity Ends in a Resounding Victory

The 2021-22 New York State budget meets a thirty-year-old demand and thirteen-year-old broken promise: equitably fund New York State's public schools so that no matter what zip code a child resides in, there is a baseline of quality their public schools can afford to meet.

The massive, downright Dickensian difference in funding between schools that sometimes are mere blocks from each other has been a hallmark of New York's public education system for generations. In 2012, a Schott Foundation report on the particularly stark disparities in New York City described it as education redlining: schools with predominantly white children were far better funded — and unsurprisingly, had higher academic outcomes — than schools with predominantly Black and Latinx children. We found a similar disparity with income as well. As the report concluded, "A Black or Hispanic student, or a student of any race or ethnicity from a low-income household, is most likely to be enrolled in one of the city’s poorest performing high schools."

By 2012 it shouldn't have been that way. Five years earlier, in 2007, the 13-year Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit concluded in a victory for public schools: New York State agreed, under court mandate, to commit more than $5.5 billion in funding over four years to equitably fund all public schools. 70% of that funding was to go to the lowest-income school districts, whose property tax bases couldn't compare with those of wealthier cities and neighborhoods. However, this funding, known as Foundation Aid, never fully materialized. Between the 2008 financial crisis and a wave of budget cuts by legislators, what should have been a decade of equity became one of austerity. And as is always the case when state governments tighten their belts, low-income and BIPOC residents bore the brunt of it.

But the Campaign for Fiscal Equity was always more than just a lawsuit: it was at the heart of a renaissance of education CONTINUE READING: A 30-year Fight for School Funding Equity Ends in a Resounding Victory | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The American Rescue Plan: A First Deposit Toward a Racial Equity Stimulus | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The American Rescue Plan: A First Deposit Toward a Racial Equity Stimulus | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The American Rescue Plan: A First Deposit Toward a Racial Equity Stimulus

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Biden, is a watershed moment. That such legislation has become law — that our federal government acted decisively with a bill targeted to aid low- and middle-income families — evokes equal parts inspiration and relief in its radical departure from previous trickle-down approaches that have increased inequality and racial injustice.

The Rescue Plan is a desperately needed life preserver for countless Americans, but what does it mean to be pulled from treacherous waters onto a leaking ship? As the end of the pandemic appears on the horizon and the federal government, states and localities rightfully deploy their fiscal resources to move the country forward, we must ensure that the society we return to isn’t the same inequitable and unjust outcomes we left in 2019.

A Racial Equity Stimulus framework on the order of $10-12 trillion is what’s needed to properly tackle the structures of white supremacy built into our society, and the Rescue Plan proves two things: one, that far-reaching reforms can be made a reality; and two, that such reforms are widely popular with the American people.

The history of the United States is punctuated by transformative moments led by visionary acts of government: Reconstruction, the New Deal, the Great Society. These moments weren’t brought forth by unique, superhuman officials. They may be catalyzed by a crisis, but they are shaped by organizing and demanding change, and policymakers willing to rise to the occasion. In addition to the past year’s historic mass racial justice mobilizations, mutual aid and elections, the passage of the Rescue Plan is yet more evidence that we find ourselves in just such a transformative moment. What we must do now is CONTINUE READING: The American Rescue Plan: A First Deposit Toward a Racial Equity Stimulus | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Racial Equity and Justice in Education are "Drastically Underfunded," Research Finds | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Racial Equity and Justice in Education are "Drastically Underfunded," Research Finds | Schott Foundation for Public Education

Racial Equity and Justice in Education are "Drastically Underfunded," Research Finds

Just 0.8% of education philanthropy dollars were directed to racial justice from 2017 to 2019, according to research recently released by the Schott Foundation for Public Education and Candid. In an op-ed summarizing the results, the Schott Foundation’s Leah Austin and Edgar Villanueva calculated that “the philanthropic investment in racial justice works out to less than $2 per student.”

The Schott Foundation for Public Education describes itself as “a national public fund serving as a bridge between philanthropic partners and advocates.” The foundation’s mission is to build and strengthen a diverse movement in support of “fully resourced, quality Pre-K-12 public education,” and it is both outspoken and proactive in its support for communities of color, as IP has reported. In a recent op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Schott President and CEO John H. Jackson called on philanthropists to support a federal racial-equity stimulus. “We’re at an inflection point in history,” Jackson wrote. “With greater public awareness of the economic as well as human costs of systemic racism, now is the time for philanthropy to act boldly.”

From racial equity to racial justice

The Schott Foundation worked with Candid to determine precisely what fraction of education philanthropy goes to racial equity and to racial justice. To distinguish between the two, the foundation used the definitions offered in the influential 2019 report “Grantmaking With a Racial Justice Lens,” by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE). (See IP’s past coverage of the report). 

“The PRE report advances the idea that racial equity is an important starting point, but racial justice evokes a higher standard,” said Leah Austin, Schott’s director of the National Opportunity to Learn Network, in a video presentation announcing the findings. “Racial equity in K-12 grantmaking addresses the achievement gap. Racial justice in K-12 grantmaking goes further to address the underlying opportunity gap.”

To illustrate the difference, Austin cited specific examples: Grants for racial bias training for teachers, mentoring programs for CONTINUE READING: Racial Equity and Justice in Education are "Drastically Underfunded," Research Finds | Schott Foundation for Public Education

#JusticeIsTheFoundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy | Schott Foundation for Public Education

#JusticeIsTheFoundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy | Schott Foundation for Public Education

#JusticeIsTheFoundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy

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Education is the second most-funded issue area in philanthropy. This is a broad category that includes capital campaigns for universities, measures of teacher effectiveness, and charter schools. How much of philanthropic funding is allocated to reduce inequities so that all students have fair access to a quality K-12 education? And how would we measure that with the data available? 

Funders Briefing: 
New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Education Funding in Philanthropy

Thursday, February 25, 2021
1-2pm ET / 10-11am PT

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In this historical moment, many of us in philanthropy are shaping our grantmaking to better support systemic transformation and advance racial equity. Black and people-of-color led organizations have recently delivered substantial wins for racial equity in schools across the country — from reforming discipline to fighting for safer and healthier in-person learning. These wins underscore the critical opportunity to support grassroots movements who are on the front lines of advancing justice. To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., how can funders help "bend the arc" toward racial justice in education?

The Schott Foundation for Public Education has worked with Candid over the past several months to critically examine the ultimate measure of education philanthropy's priorities: where the grant dollars go. For the first time, thanks to this joint effort, we can view this philanthropic sector with an equity and justice lens, telling the story of what we prioritize as a sector and revealing blind spots in our collective response. This data has deepened Schott's understanding, and we invite you to learn more and join us. You can view our findings here.

You'll learn from this conversation:

1. The state of racial equity and racial justice funding for the K-12 education sector
2. The impact that current funding is — and isn't — making to support transformational and systemic change
3. Clear action steps every funder can take to deepen your commitment to funding justice 

 
Speakers:

• Dr. John H. Jackson, President & CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education
• Dr. Leah Austin, Director of the Opportunity to Learn Network, Schott Foundation for Public Education
• Letha Muhammad, Director, Education Justice Alliance
• Edgar Villanueva, Senior Vice President of Programs & Advocacy, Schott Foundation for Public Education

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The Schott Foundation for Public Education worked with Candid to critically examine the ultimate measure of education philanthropy's priorities: where the grant dollars go. For the first time, we can assess the collective philanthropic impact of giving in the education sector through a lens of racial equity and racial justice, telling the story of what we prioritize and revealing blind spots in our collective response.

Finding 1: Both Racial Equity and Racial Justice are Drastically Underfunded by Education Philanthropy

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Racial Equity and Racial Justice: What’s the Difference?

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For the purposes of our study, we took care to parse out grants that may look similar on the face, but actually have significant differences.

• Racial equity refers to grants designed to close the achievement gap that persists between racial groups. Grants for racial equity include support for programs such as racial bias trainings for teachers or mentorship programs for Black and brown students.
• Racial justice refers to grants designed to close the opportunity gap — the underlying systemic injustices that create the achievement gap in the first place. Racial justice grants focus explicitly on empowering people closest to the problem (families and students) organizing in their communities to change the systems and structures that generate and reinforce racial inequity. Racial justice grantmaking supports building community power, supporting policy change, engaging with policymakers, building partnerships with advocates to advance racial equity.

In short, racial equity grants address symptoms, while racial justice grants address root causes by strengthening the foundation, or bedrock, of efforts to achieve equity.

Here’s a sampling of the language used in grant descriptions that were considered “racial justice”:

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Finding 2: While the Need is Growing, Funding is Shrinking

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Funding data from 2011 to 2018, indicate that overall philanthropic giving increased dramatically, growing 48%. At the same time, the proportion of philanthropic dollars for K-12 education shrunk slightly, by 7%. Funding for racial equity and justice took a hammering, shrinking by 36% in the same interval.

Finding 3: Racial Justice Funding is Unevenly Distributed

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K-12 racial justice funding is concentrated in the Northeast. The majority of dollars, 63%, went to organizations based there. Only 16% went to those located in the South and 17% to those in the West. Meanwhile, 43% of all K-12 public school students of color are enrolled in the South and 29% in the West.

In some cases, the recipients of grants spend those resources in a different region — for example, the Schott Foundation is based in the Northeast but funds organizations across the country. However, the fact that so few grant recipients are located in the region with the plurality of students of color is a serious disproportionality that Schott will examine closely in future research.

What Can Be Done?

Movements for racial justice in education are growing in a moment when, due in large part to the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uprisings for racial justice, the future direction of public education is more open to change than ever before. Now is our chance to re-imagine and make systemic changes in education that lay the foundation for equity of opportunity for children of color, if funders across the philanthropic spectrum invest now in racial justice in K-12 education. There’s never been a more pertinent time. 

For almost 30 years, the Schott Foundation has put the struggle for racial justice at the heart of our grantmaking strategy. In that time we’ve worked closely with other funders who are looking to shift their priorities in a similar direction.

We invite you to partner with us to make the critical investments needed to help move the arc of our nation’s public education system toward greater racial justice in the years ahead. Children of color, indeed our nation’s future, depend on it.

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Methodology

Click here to download a FAQ about the methodology used in researching the philanthropic data.

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#JusticeIsTheFoundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy | Schott Foundation for Public Education

 

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#JusticeIsTheFoundation: New Data on Racial Equity and Racial Justice Funding in Education Philanthropy | Schott Foundation for Public Education