On Tuesday, about 2000 Black students from across California converged on the state Capitol to protest a planned education budget they claim doesn't do enough for black students in public schools, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

The arrangement, presented by Gov. Newsom, would give schools extra funding based on the number of students who receive free or reduced-price lunches. Because many Black students do not attend low-income schools, they would be excluded from that money despite consistently poor math and reading performance.

On Tuesday, students held up signs with statistics on the achievement gap, including "70% of Black students are below grade level in reading" and "84% of Black kids are below grade level in math," as well as "Teach Me How to Dougie." They also sang the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

According to recent data, black students constitute only a tiny fraction of California's student population, at approximately 5%. The numbers suggest that much work still needs to be done to create equal opportunities for all races. By promoting diversity and equality in education, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.

"The governor's current proposal targets low-income schools, not the lowest-performing students. There is a difference," said Christina Laster, the education director of the National Action Network.

The revised budget will be released later in May; we'll have to see how everything turns out. One thing is for sure, these issues needed to be addressed more thoughtfully and carefully, with more metrics being reviewed besides income.

Student Hires Programs and Diversity

At Student Hires, we are passionate about creating hands-on experiential learning programs for K-12 students led by college students. Our mission is to increase the career readiness of disadvantaged youth in local communities, providing them with the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce. 

Our dedicated team of college student mentors works closely with K-12 students, exposing them to various career paths and providing practical, real-life experience through project-based learning programs. We work hard to ensure all our students are treated equally and have equal opportunities to learn different skills and concepts.

Conclusion

As the protesting continues, hopefully, legislators can talk to representatives from affected communities and develop a proper solution so Black students can feel represented equally. Let us know your thoughts on the subject below!