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Education is built on the belief that people can be more. In the words of , an important anti-racist leader and figure in the development of African American education, "." Du Bois's speeches and writings on the education of Black students were part of his larger concern about Black children's well-being and the uplifting of Black communities.

In other words, for education to be truly a , everyone needs to be accommodated in the classroom.

Canada is , but this reputation can hide the realities of its Black students. that , it's clear that access to education in Canada isn't equitable and inclusive. Canada's kindergarten to Grade 12 education systems should receive a failing grade until anti-Blackness is addressed.

Way to improve

The offers a way to improve with a new targeted approach to addressing anti-Blackness. The center offers a model based on strategic community engagement that school boards across Canada can learn from and enact.

I am a Ph.D. student researching Black youth and families' experiences in education, and I support research for this TDSB initiative .

Mutual relationships

Decades after DuBois, Brazilian educator Paolo Freire argued that . Unfortunately, for Black students in Canada, this has rarely been the case.

Even , and , the schooling experiences of Black children and youth reveal an ongoing struggle with anti-Black racism.

Behind this failure stand governments and school boards that have fallen short on accountability measures that ensure no Black child or youth is left behind in fulfilling their potential.

Given that , our education systems and communities must continue to address the systemic and institutional barriers that prevent Black youth from claiming it.

Reducing barriers in education

At the Center of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, the aim is to develop an education system where anti-Blackness is dismantled with targeted anti-racist policy and practice. This involves introducing accountability measures to counter the full spectrum of that devalue Black life.

The TDSB launched this initiative as one response towards developing solutions and responding to ways Black students and families continue to encounter barriers in education. Community members and education stakeholders in dialog with the board identified to pursue. These include combatting anti-Black racism, identifying ways to improve Black students' success and achievement and access to resources like scholarships, networking and mentoring from within the community.

More importantly, many of the offered to Black students reveal a commitment to improving and overall well-being across the TDSB. Through evidence-based research, staff document student responses to programming, and then amplify student voices to improve educators' work in classrooms, and to enhance student learning experiences.

Black students' well-being

As continues to grow its staff, the current team including graduation coaches and kindergarten to Grade 12 learning coaches. The latter support schools and staff with building an inclusive and anti-racist approach and practice to support Black students' well-being.

Staff understand that improving Black students' education involves a system-wide targeted approach. Together we look for and create opportunities to build educators' understanding of practicing anti-racism in the classroom and school environments. We provide strategies, instructional programming and resources through ongoing professional development.

With the support of the program co-ordinator and principal, the team developed several programs for Black students. For example, there is a that sees Black students learn about youth participatory action research.

There is a summer leadership program to provide Black students with experiential learning opportunities. This is done to support Black students to develop their leadership skills, build networks, improve job readiness skills and knowledge about various careers.

Black students engage with universities to learn more about STEM programs. One such provided students the opportunity to take computer science courses while gaining credits toward their Ontario Secondary School diploma.

A call to action

Facing anti-Black racism and committing to addressing it means teachers and administrators are called on to develop school plans, curriculum, safe classroom spaces and policies, as well as teacher education, to ensure Black students receive the same access, resources and support as their white counterparts. This emphasis on sameness is important because it supports the fight for rights to education under the law. This is key to aiding Black youth in their academic success.

Equal education opportunity for Black youth is a fundamental human right.

If the majority of the white and racialized teachers graduating from teacher education programs having no previous experience using anti-oppressive, anti-racist or decolonial practices, will continue to harm Black students' well-being and academic outcomes.

Increase Black children's engagement

School boards in Canada have the opportunity to take many steps to focus on the experience of Black people in the curriculum, and increase Black children's civic engagement and success in school.

These steps could include creating Black studies courses, and using . As part of their commitment to disrupting anti-Blackness, teachers can commit to critically .

The problems Black youth encounter in education are real. Researchers and community advocates have have identified educational disparities, and we are beholden to take action to solve them. Until Black children and youth feel accepted, respected and protected, our work is not done.