Black Minds Matter 2025: Building Bright Black Futures, is a wakeup call for California. It highlights how, even in 2025, Black students are still being denied access to the educators, learning environments, and proven strategies that research shows support academic success. This snail’s pace of progress is unacceptable, and even more troubling to see a whole decade after the original Black Minds Matter call to action was issued in 2015. What the state is doing is not working. It’s clear that California’s education governance system is currently too fragmented to be effective at solving the state’s challenges in supporting Black students. California leaders have an opportunity to right this ship, and to create the structure necessary for tangible, transformative change that reaches students in classrooms today, not generations from now. EdTrust-West is calling on state leaders to create a standing commission, a California Commission on Black Education Transformation, to do just that.
What would be the goal of the California Commission on Black Education Transformation?
The goal of the California Commission on Black Education Transformation would be to immediately ensure implementation of policies and practices that evidence shows boost Black student success throughout the state of California.
Why a Commission? Why now?
The need for transformation is clear. On nearly every indicator we analyzed in Black Minds Matter 2025, California’s education systems are not supporting Black students anywhere near well enough. Over the last ten years, the needle has barely moved — and in some areas, it has moved backward.
Take postsecondary attainment as one example. California’s state leaders have set the goal that 70% of working-age adults ages 25 to 64 would hold a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. But currently only 40% of Black adults in California hold a degree and fewer Black students are going to college after high school in California than ten years ago.
If bold steps aren’t taken, California won’t just fall short of its postsecondary goals — it will deepen the opportunity gap for Black Californians, further entrenching disparities that have persisted for generations.
While California has multiple state agencies and entities, these outcomes are not the result of a single failing. They are rooted in structural racism and persistent inequities – in funding, teacher preparation, accountability, and access to opportunity. Solving a problem of this scale requires leadership that is unified, strategic, and empowered to act. It’s clear that California requires greater coordination among the various public systems and entities entrusted with educating Black students. Some of the powers and authority of the proposed Commission may already exist in one entity or another, but they’re dispersed across the state government and haven’t been utilized with an appropriate sense of urgency and focus on the needs of Black students.
What would a California Commission on Black Education Transformation do?
In plain language, the Commission would be able to take action to ensure California schools and colleges are doing right by Black students. The Commission would have the power and authority to take meaningful action to ensure that schools and colleges are accountable for Black student success through the following functions:
✅ Overseeing Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices
There is no shortage of research, community insight, and data on what works. But many of the practices proven to improve Black student outcomes are not widely or consistently used. The Commission would ensure these policies and practices are implemented — not just recommended — by school districts, colleges, and universities.
💰 Allocating and Monitoring Funding with Accountability
The Commission would oversee the allocation of state funds tied to Black student success. It would set expectations for how funds should be used and hold institutions accountable when those expectations aren’t met. For example, if a district fails to include investments for Black students in its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), its plan could be denied approval. Similar oversight would apply to higher education institutions.
🔍 Increasing Transparency
California already has public-facing data tools — the Commission would ensure these are used to track progress, highlight equity gaps, and inform action. Transparency around this data and how they are used to make policy and practice decisions is especially important for Black students and families who have historically been excluded from decision-making. They deserve clear information on how schools are serving their communities.
🌟 Recognizing Schools and Colleges for Black Excellence
The Commission would spotlight and reward institutions that are achieving strong outcomes for Black students with a “Seal of Black Excellence,” creating a culture of recognition and replication of what works.
Do other Commissions of this sort exist?
California has a Commission on the Status of Women and Girls that for many years has “identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls”. This Commission assesses and takes action in a multitude of sectors beyond just education, including health, employment and safety. At the Federal level, different administrations from both major political parties have designated Commissions. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush started the “President’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics”. President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden also enacted Commissions of a similar focus on African American educational excellence.
There is both precedent for California and an opportunity. As the world’s fourth largest economy, with a population of Black Californians under 25 that is near the entire population of Vermont, it makes sense that California needs a state-level Commission to tackle a challenge of this magnitude. At a time when education policy and practice decisions are being increasingly pointed to as state rather than federal responsibilities, California can lead the way with this type of Commission.
Who would be involved?
Creating a Commission allows the governor and state legislature to effectively and appropriately use their power to put a dedicated focus on a currently siloed problem. As such, their involvement and guidance would play a crucial role in putting together the group of experts tasked with such an important state priority.
Commissioners would be appointed by the governor and leaders in the legislature, and would include:
- California state legislators
- TK-12 and higher education leaders
- Representatives from state education agencies including the California Department of Education, State Board of Education, Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and others.
- Researchers with expertise in Black student success
- Black students and community members
Other public officials would also be included in the appointed membership. Members would have a proven track record in supporting Black student success initiatives and represent regional and sector diversity. The Commission would be an independent body, not housed in a single agency or institution in the state. The agencies within the Commission are crucial elements of solving this problem, and the expertise housed within those entities is needed. However, this is not a single-agency problem, and it will not be solved by a single-agency effort. An independent Commission ensures existing state entities are involved appropriately, yet also makes sure the Commission’s work is not siloed or constrained by being housed within just one facet of our education system.
What’s next?
We recognize that calling for a Commission on Black Education Transformation is a bold move. It’s also a necessary one. Staying on the current path means accepting an education system that continues to segregate Black students from the educational opportunities they deserve. A California Commission on Black Education Transformation offers a path forward — one rooted in justice, transparency, and outcomes, not just rhetoric. We’re eager to have conversations with fellow advocates, education leaders, state legislators and public officials, and other stakeholders about the role a California Commission on Black Education Transformation can play in this next chapter of our state’s education systems.
For more updates on Black Minds Matter 2025 and next steps for urging the state to create a Commission, join our email list here.
