At its July 15 meeting, the Sacramento County Board of Education unanimously adopted Resolution 25-07, committing to recognize the strengths of Black students and reform educational practices to better serve their needs. The resolution is rooted in findings from a SCOE landscape analysis report that show persistent disparities in academic performance, graduation rates, suspension rates, and absenteeism for Black students across Sacramento County.
Despite representing just under 10% of the county’s student population, Black youth are significantly overrepresented in categories such as foster care, juvenile justice, and experiencing homelessness. The resolution highlights these systemic issues while also celebrating the talents, leadership, and cultural contributions of Black students.
The equity-focused initiative outlines eight core commitments, supporting culturally relevant teaching, setting measurable achievement goals, and fostering community partnerships. Student success will be encouraged in the following ways:
- Acknowledge and Celebrate the Strengths of Black Students
- Uplift Black Student Leadership
- Support Targeted Interventions
- Ensure Measurable Goals
- Ensure SCOE Leadership and Resource Commitment
- Commit to Continuous Improvement
- Engage Educational Partners and Youth
- Seek Equitable Allocation of Resources
With the resolution, the Board is directing the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to align existing initiatives with the report’s recommendations. It also encourages all 13 school districts in Sacramento County to do the same.