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The U.S. Department of Education’s decision to reopen its investigation into LAUSD’s Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) is concerning and distracts from what really matters: whether students are getting the support they need to succeed in school. In our 25 years of fighting for educational equity, we have seen these tactics before: attempts to reframe equity-focused solutions as “unfair” to derail necessary progress.
Through BSAP, schools are working to provide students with more support from educators, building stronger connections with families, and creating learning environments where they feel seen and valued. These practical, common‑sense steps have been proven to help students stay engaged and do better in school.
Our advocacy for Black students in Los Angeles is not based on ideology—it is grounded in evidence. Our Black Student Success Data Tool shows that Black students continue to experience lower academic outcomes and higher rates of discipline and disengagement across LAUSD. These patterns did not appear by accident, and they will not disappear if we ignore them.
This is not complicated. When programs like BSAP are challenged, it is not because students no longer need support; it is because students’ needs are being pushed aside. We stand with the families, educators, and communities who remain committed to confronting inequity head-on, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. State, district, and school leaders cannot afford to retreat in the face of this pressure.
EdTrust-West is an evidence-driven advocacy organization committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system. For over two decades, EdTrust-West has worked to improve racial equity in education by engaging diverse communities and increasing political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners will thrive. For more information, see www.edtrustwest.org.