What We’re Watching: Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Road Ahead

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been in the news this week. In an interview on Wednesday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos distanced herself from a comment she made earlier this year about HBCUs, specifically that they were pioneers of school choice. DeVos says that because of racism, black students did not have choices in those days, and that she meant to praise HBCUs for “pioneering on behalf of students that didn’t have another choice. This was their only choice.”

Yesterday, Emmeline Zhao of The 74 spoke with Michael Lomax of the United Negro College Fund about HBCUs and also about charter schools and the NAACP.

For a big picture look at HBCUs, you can watch a discussion hosted by AEI earlier this year on the state of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and what challenges and opportunities await them on the road ahead.

— Education Next

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