WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 29, 2023) – Education Reform Now (ERN) CEO Jorge Elorza released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end race conscious admissions policies in higher education:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court threatens decades of progress toward greater equity and racial diversity on college campuses across our nation. There is no question that structural racism is ingrained in the fibers of every institution; reversing race conscious admissions policies will only allow these prejudices to go unchecked, harkening us back toward times of greater inequity and division, not toward the progress so many of us seek.
As we’ve seen in states and universities across the country, when affirmative action policies are overturned, racial diversity on campuses plummets—a reality that hurts all students, not just students of color, who benefit from learning in diverse environments.
Let’s be clear, today’s ruling involves one important mechanism for achieving campus diversity, but race conscious admissions policies are not the only way to cultivate a diverse student body and place of work. In the coming months and years, it is imperative that policymakers, higher education leaders, and educators take steps to meaningfully prioritize admitting and graduating students of color, along with diverse student bodies overall.”
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