Statement by The Education Trust-Midwest on the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions

Statement by Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest, on the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions

The recent Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in college admissions is not only counterproductive to equal opportunity and diversity in higher education. The ruling threatens decades of progress toward expanding opportunity for all Americans, regardless of background.

In Michigan, we know all too well that we cannot eradicate the racism baked into our educational systems without talking about race. The truth is race matters.

But we also know that the fight for educational opportunity for all Americans doesn’t end here. There is much we can do as a civil society to advance opportunity for all.

State leaders can continue to pass budgets that continue to direct funding where it’s needed most and invest in financial aid programs that lessen the crushing burden of student debt.

K-12 leaders can still make college-going coursework the default for every single student, recruit more teachers of color, and use instructional materials that affirm students’ lives and communities.

Higher education leaders can still replace ineffective, detrimental remedial courses with research-based strategies and partner with school districts to offer community college courses to high schoolers.

At Ed Trust-Midwest, we remain steadfastly committed to doing what we’ve done for over a decade. We will continue to work to expand opportunity by seeking policy and practice changes and accountability that improve equity in our PreK-12 schools and in our colleges and universities.

This is a historic moment to continue the momentum on important work already happening in Michigan and expand it to ensure greater educational opportunities for all Michiganders, from pre-school through adulthood.