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Is California doing right by Black students?

Black Minds Matter 2025: Building Bright Black Futures continues the work that launched in 2015 with the Black Minds Matter campaign. This comprehensive report explores whether or not California is truly doing right by Black students, combining data on dozens of metrics with stories of change agents, and recommendations.

Our intention with Black Minds Matter 2025 continues our rallying cry from ten years ago: we urgently need bold action from our state’s leaders. The pace of progress on student outcomes is alarming enough that we need a new entity to reimagine what supporting Black students in our state means: a State Commission on Black Education Transformation.

Is California doing right by Black students? 

Black Minds Matter 2025: Building Bright Black Futures continues the work that launched in 2015 with the Black Minds Matter campaign. This comprehensive report explores whether or not California is truly doing right by Black students, combining data on dozens of metrics with stories of change agents, and recommendations.

Our intention with Black Minds Matter 2025 continues our rallying cry from ten years ago: we urgently need bold action from our state’s leaders. The pace of progress on student outcomes is alarming enough that we need a new entity to reimagine what supporting Black students in our state means: a State Commission on Black Education Transformation. 

Read the 2025 Report

In addition to the full report, we created standalone pullouts of the report sections that can serve as resources to support advocacy around the state. Click on the buttons below to read each section

Executive Summary
Current Landscape for Black Californians
Assets & Aspirations
Policy and Politics Timeline
TK-12 Recommendations
Higher Education Recommendations
Su Jin Jez
Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D
Mia Bonta
Joe Nino
Marc Philpart
Jessie Ryan
Guillermo Mayer
Dr. Xavier Buck
Dr. Tyrone Howard
Dr. Michael V. Drake
Dr. Daisy Gonzales
Dina Walker
Annie Lee

Help us spread the word about Black Minds Matter. Click here to access the communications toolkit which includes social media posts, and suggested posts to share in your newsletter. 

Do you have an idea for an event, local briefing, presentation, or other ways to partner with us on Black Minds Matter 2025? Contact Lange Luntao (Northern and Central California) or Mayra Lara (Southern California).

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Black Minds Matter 2025 Resources

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Black Minds Matter Resources Over the Years

Download 2022 Fact Sheet
Download the 2015 Report
Download the Policy Timeline
Watch Day of Advocacy Video

More Resources

Digital Stories: Can be Used for Structured Activities to Explore Key Findings from the Report.

🔗 Black Californians’ Assets and Aspirations – Highlighting the strengths, dreams, and contributions of Black Californians.

🔗 TK-12: Segregated Opportunities Create Unequal Outcomes – Examining persistent disparities shaping Black students’ experiences in elementary, middle, and high school, including rates of discipline, access to diverse and quality teachers, and more.  

🔗 College Access & Success: Segregated Supports Derail Students’ Dreams – Assessing systemic barriers that Black students pursuing higher education face, including access to college-preparatory coursework, support for basic needs, and more.

🔗 Educational Opportunity and Outcomes in LA County – A regional look at opportunity gaps and outcomes for Black students across TK-12 and higher education in Los Angeles County. 

Amplify the Message In Order to Support Advocacy Efforts for Change

The amplifier toolkit has ready to use copy for newsletters and social media posts. Please post and consider tagging California elected officials.

At EdTrust-West, we believe a different California is possible:

a California that ensures that Black, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native American students’ futures are as bright as their dreams are big. We believe that our state’s schools, colleges, and universities can form the bedrock of a more just California.

Committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in California’s education system.

California Offices: Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento

National Office: EdTrust

State Offices: EdTrust-New York, EdTrust-Tennessee, EdTrust-Midwest

Tel: 510.465.6444

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Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.