Many key issues, like the economy, immigration, and abortion, are dominating the national conversation in the lead up to the 2024 elections. However, one critical issue that directly impacts the future of our communities—education—seems to have slipped from the forefront. Education remains a crucial topic, and understanding the trends that will shape it is essential, especially for communities of color.

Leaders of Color, committed to creating an ecosystem of Black and Latinx leaders in public office, sees education as central to achieving community equity. In our work to empower underrepresented leaders, we recognize that education is a foundational pillar for progress, especially for Black and Latinx students, who have historically been left behind by traditional education systems. 

Here are three major areas in education we are watching in the 2024 elections:

1. The Fight for More Diverse Representation in Education

Representation in education is more important than ever. School board seats and other local elected offices that impact our education systems are critically important in our communities. In the past several years, battles over school board seats and resulting policies have made headlines across our nation. Collectively, local school boards represent the largest number of people holding elected office, and make policies that directly affect the nearly 50 million students in K-12 who attend our schools. We believe that Black and Latinx leaders are more likely to push for inclusive curriculums, culturally responsive teaching, and policy solutions that address racial disparities in education. Meet the Leaders of Color running for office in 2024 elections.

2. The Push for Education Equity Amid Growing Inequality

Inequities in education have long existed, but the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated them, particularly for low-income families and communities of color. Access to quality education is increasingly dependent on factors such as technology, parental support, and school resources, which many communities lack. Moving forward, the focus needs to be on building a more equitable education system that provides all students, regardless of their zip code, with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

This includes ensuring that Black and Latinx students have access to advanced coursework, STEM opportunities, and mental health services. Policymakers and educational leaders must commit to closing achievement gaps by allocating funding, training, and attention to underserved communities.

At Leaders of Color, we are committed to advancing these trends by working with communities to create the leadership, infrastructure, and policies needed to push for equity in education. As we head into Election Day, we urge voters and policymakers to recognize the importance of education as a key to unlocking broader societal change.

3. The School Choice Debate Continues to Evolve

Parents, particularly Black and Latinx parents and those from low-income families, are looking for more public school choices for their children. While affluent families who have the resources to exercise school choice will relocate to a zip code with better-performing traditional public schools, many other families are faced with public schools that are often underperforming. We believe every parent deserves the right to select from an array of free public-school options—including traditional public schools, magnet schools, career academies, and public charter schools—to ensure equity in opportunity and transparency around results. Our focus is on ensuring all parents are able to access a high-quality public school that meets their child’s needs.

The national conversation on school choice is growing, with various states implementing new voucher and Educational Savings Account (ESA) programs. These programs allow public funds to follow students to non-traditional educational settings, such as private schools or homeschooling. While popular among certain groups, there’s mixed support, particularly among those who fear such programs divert resources from public schools. The tension between expanding school choice and ensuring strong public schools will be a defining debate in education policy this year.

Every election matters. At Leaders of Color, we are working tirelessly in our sites to ensure that people can vote and are informed of the local issues on the ballot. We are proud to support the Leaders of Color running for election in 2024, and the many leaders who are already serving in public office. 

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