Research And Writing
Influencing Public Policy And Public Discourse
The National Black Parents Association treats research and writing as a core function, not an afterthought. Policy shapes outcomes. If you do not control the research and the narrative, you do not control the policy.
State legislatures pass thousands of education-related bills every year. Many move forward with little to no input from African American scholars, attorneys, or practitioners who understand how those laws affect Black children. That absence produces predictable results. Policies pass that weaken protections, distort history, and ignore the lived realities of Black students.
The data confirms the stakes.
Black students face systemic disparities at every level of the education system:
- Black students are about 3.5 times more likely to be suspended than white students, according to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
- Black boys make up roughly 8 percent of students but over 25 percent of suspensions
- Only 12 percent of Black male eighth graders read at or above proficiency, based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
- Schools serving predominantly Black students receive about $2,200 less per student in funding compared to schools serving mostly white students, according to EdBuild.
These are not isolated issues. They are the result of policy decisions. Discipline policies. Funding formulas. Curriculum standards. Civil rights enforcement priorities.
Recent policy trends have intensified these disparities.
At the federal and state levels, there has been a coordinated push to restrict how race, inequality, and Black history are taught in classrooms. Multiple states have passed laws limiting instruction on systemic racism or banning certain books and materials. At the same time, enforcement of civil rights protections in education has weakened, reducing accountability for discriminatory practices.
State education agencies and local school districts follow these signals. They adjust policies, revise curriculum, and shift priorities. The result is a system where:
- Black history is minimized or removed
- Civil rights complaints face greater resistance
- Inequitable discipline practices persist
- Resource gaps remain unaddressed
You cannot fix this without controlling the intellectual ground. That is where research and writing come in.
The NBPA will build a national network of scholars, attorneys, educators, and policy experts who will produce serious, actionable work. This is not academic theory. This is targeted research designed to influence decisions.
Our work will include:
Policy Papers
We will draft clear, focused proposals addressing funding inequities, discipline reform, curriculum standards, and civil rights enforcement. Each paper will identify the problem, present data, and offer a legislative or administrative solution.
Legal Analysis
We will analyze federal and state laws, executive actions, and court decisions that impact Black students. This includes identifying where policies violate existing civil rights protections and where new legal strategies are needed.
Data Reports
We will compile and publish data on discipline rates, academic performance, school funding, and access to resources. These reports will give parents, advocates, and lawmakers the evidence needed to act.
Rapid Response Briefs
When new laws or policies emerge, we will respond quickly with clear breakdowns of what they do and how they affect Black children. You should not have to guess how a policy impacts your child.
Public Education Materials
We will translate complex research into plain language so parents and communities understand what is happening and what steps to take.
This work serves a direct purpose.
- Lawmakers need credible research to justify change
- Courts rely on data and analysis to evaluate claims
- Communities need clear information to organize and advocate
If you want different outcomes, you need different inputs. You need research produced by people committed to Black children, backed by data, and aimed at real policy change.
The NBPA will produce that work.