Dear Education Partner,

The Supreme Court decision on affirmative action last week added yet another barrier to advancing racial equity in our country. We recognize that many of our Education Program partners are impacted by the decision, and we hope you have seen the blog post published yesterday by Barr President Jim Canales: Undeterred, Our Work Continues.  

As Jim notes in his blog, our Education Program is grounded in the unwavering belief that all students—regardless of who they are or where they live—deserve access to high-quality learning experiences that prepare them for college, career, and life. We center the experiences and success of students of color because we know that throughout our nation's history, and into the present day, race has played a significant role in accessing opportunity. A key part of this work is ensuring that all high school students are informed and prepared for a range of postsecondary options, including access to four-year higher education options. Our commitment to these aspirations for students of color is even more vital in light of the court ruling.  

Furthermore, we fully believe that naming and discussing race and racial disparities is a necessary condition for addressing those inequities. Therefore, we will continue to talk about race and focus our investments on supporting the success of historically marginalized student populations.  

While this decision is specifically about race-conscious admissions programs in higher education, we recognize that there is concern about where this could go next. We are interested in hearing your questions and needs regarding the recent Supreme Court decisions and implications for your work. I encourage you to be in touch with your program officer or email the team at education@barrfoundation.org with any reflections. 

Thank you for your partnership towards a better future.  

Jenny 
Director of Education
Barr Foundation