EdTrust-West Statement on Federal Rollback of English Learner Guidance
08/22/2025EdTrust-West Statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s Cancellation of Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) Grant Programs
09/10/2025
EdTrust-West Responds to New National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Data
These results make one thing clear: now is the time to invest in and improve public schools, not abandon them.
Among the newly released results, gaps of note include:
- Less than 50% of Black students and 60% of Latinx students scored at or above a basic level in reading, compared to 75% of white students. A much smaller share – only 17% of Black 12th graders and 24% of Latinx 12th graders – were supported to reach the more rigorous standard of demonstrating proficiency in reading, compared to 42% of white students.
- In math, only 30% of 12th-grade Black students, 40% of 12th-grade Latinx students, and 38% of students from low-income backgrounds scored at or above a basic level, while 67% of white 12th-grade students were supported to do so. Only 6% of Black 12th graders and 9% of Latinx 12th graders were supported to demonstrate math proficiency compared to 28% of white students.
- Only 12% of the nation’s Black 8th graders were supported to demonstrate proficiency in science in 2024, 1 percentage point fewer than 10 years ago. Only 18% of the nation’s Latinx 8th graders were supported to demonstrate proficiency in science, unchanged from a decade ago.
These disparities demand action—not silence. California must double down on its commitment to equity by ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education that empowers them to learn, grow, and thrive. This means investing in inclusive policies, targeted resources, and community-driven solutions that close opportunity gaps and uphold every child’s right to succeed.
See Staying Committed to Racial Equity in Challenging Times: EdTrust-West’s 2025 Policy Agenda for more on EdTrust-West’s policy priorities.
About EdTrust-West
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.
