Education builds wealth. This new Kansas City solution can help Black students excel

As a result of George Floyd’s brutal videotaped killing, American society appears poised to address systemic racism in real and historic ways. A top priority should be to make changes a core institution with a history of unequal treatment and outcomes: our schools.

Education has long been recognized as a path to building wealth, but outcomes vary widely by race. The Federal Reserve’s 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances found that the median net worth (assets minus debts) of a white household headed by a bachelor’s degree holder is $391,000, compared to $68,300 for a Black household. The difference is even greater with a high school diploma only: $100,600 for a white household, compared to only $10,010 for a Black household.

There are many reasons for this vast discrepancy, but long-standing systemic problems in our K-12 schools are likely culprits. The 2015-2016 Office of Civil Rights Data Collection survey found that Black students were 3.4 times more likely to have a single out-of-school suspension than white students, 5.8 times more likely to have multiple suspensions, 3.2 times more likely to have in-school suspensions and 2.2 times more likely to be held back a grade. On the other hand, white students were 3.2 times more likely to be placed in gifted programs and 2.3 times more likely to take advanced placement courses.

K-12 inequities make it more difficult for Black students to get accepted at elite colleges, which provide better opportunities and higher salaries for graduates. About 15% of high school graduates are Black, but the student bodies at Princeton and Yale are both about 8% Black. Many other elite colleges have similar discrepancies.

One way to improve educational outcomes for Black students is to have more Black teachers. In 2017, more than 17% of K-12 public school students nationwide were Black, but fewer than 7% of teachers were. In Kansas City Public Schools, 57% of students are Black, but only 27% of teachers are.

I’ve mentioned this disparity to some of my white progressive friends, and a common refrain is, “Why does it matter what color the teacher is, as long as it’s a good teacher?” First, having teachers who understand you where you live is important. Second, teachers are often our strongest role models growing up, and having instructors who look like us is essential to self esteem.

Recent studies demonstrate the impact of having more Black teachers. A 2017 IZA Institute of Labor Economics study found that having just one Black teacher in third, fourth or fifth grade reduced low-income Black boys’ probability of dropping out of high school by 39%.

A 2018 Bureau of Economic Research study found that Black students are 13% more likely to attend college if they have just one Black teacher in elementary school, and 32% more likely if they have two.

A 2017 paper by a University of Missouri researcher found that when students had teachers of the same race, they felt more cared for, had more interest in their schoolwork and were more confident in the teachers’ ability to communicate with them. The students also said they worked harder and had higher college aspirations.

How do we get more Black teachers in Kansas City classrooms? Trinity Davis, former assistant superintendent of curriculum at Kansas City Public Schools, has started a new organization called Teachers Like Me to address the shortage of Black teachers.

“School districts have the heavy lifting of meeting social, emotional, and academic needs of students,” she said. “There are several layers to this work. Educational outcomes and research clearly demonstrate the value of having more Black teachers in the classroom. We started Teachers Like Me to help schools recruit, develop, and retain Black teachers.” It’s a reason for optimism.

Tech entrepreneur Scott A. Johnson lives in the Manheim Park neighborhood of Kansas City. He was recently appointed to the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Kansas City.

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Education builds wealth. This new Kansas City solution can help Black students excel."