The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education condemns systemic racism and supports demands for racial equality and justice. The spotlight put on racial injustice in recent weeks is long overdue and should extend to a full examination of disparities in all its forms, including in our education system.

From exclusionary disciplinary practices to the lack of equal access to high-quality educational opportunities such as advanced or college preparatory coursework, from inequities in funding and the supports necessary for all students to succeed, and on almost any other indicator of student opportunity, Black students in Massachusetts face significant and persistent disparities. These underlying inequities rob students and families of their dignity, and of opportunities for fully realized lives.

In a column for The 74, Derrell Bradford, executive director of the New York Campaign for Achievement Now (NYCAN), concludes, “The story of black people is the story of our country’s efforts to live up to its founding values. Black lives matter, and black education matters, because everyone’s freedom matters. And only when black folks are safe to both learn and live will all Americans be free.”

We agree. MBAE believes that more should be expected from everyone and that greater urgency should be applied to ensuring we close opportunity gaps. We are committed to joining with our partners in business and in education to renew and reenergize our focus on improvements in educational opportunities and outcomes for black, brown and immigrant students to ensure this movement for justice leads to meaningful and lasting change and impact. Realizing a just and equitable society and economy depends on our collective success and the education system needs to catalyze the change.