According to Brookings (2016), two-thirds of BIPOC students continue to attend predominantly BIPOC schools, the majority of which are located in core cities, and receive significantly less funding than districts in nearby suburban areas. Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, and Texas discovered that schools serving more students of color had much lower resources than schools serving predominantly white students on every measurable criteria, from skilled teachers to curriculum offerings to funding for school classes and clubs. Due to the inequitable distribution of K–12 funding, schools with a diverse student body receive disproportionately more funding than those with a high concentration of white students.

Educational resources (i.e. access to technology, quality, and honors curriculum(textbooks & honors courses), funding, extra-curricular activities/clubs, and highly qualified teachers) will help prepare these students for a successful transition into the college environment. As Gloria Ladson-Billing (2006) argues, due to segregation and the historical effects of institutional racism, there is a substantial opportunity debt between white children and black and brown students in our schools. Additionally, as stated in an NPR story, what that means is that a sizable share of minority children are not just attending essentially segregated schools, but also schools with fewer resources accessible to them.Barriers have therefore existed for BIPOC students since the beginning of America’s existence, and these same barriers still exist today. The Economic Policy Institute reiterates this, stating that unaddressed school segregation is a significant long-term policy failure. The majority of black students are forced to attend academically deficient schools. Despite Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation has continued to have a negative impact on black children’s educational and employment opportunities due to the persistent performance inequalities between white and black students that exist today.(Garcia, 2020).

The purpose of this website is to document and highlight the inequitable educational experiences of BIPOC students throughout the state of New York. This website is to build a sense of empowerment for those impacted by these inequities in hopes that it can bring forth change, acknowledgment, and transformation. We hope that those who come to this site feel empowered to contribute to the change of our education system to make it an equitable experience for all students. All people can benefit from the use of this site but specifically, K-12 educators, policymakers, administrators, and future teachers.