African American leaders at all the local, state and national levels have been working collaboratively with Dr. Bill Cosby to develop an African American Educational Civil Rights Agenda and action plan designed to organize and mobilize the entire community to realize the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by eradicating the underachievement of our children in public schools. 

The growing achievement gap for African American students has resulted in lower graduation rates; higher drop-out rates; declining college enrollment; and an alarming proportion of incarcerated Black men.  The dream of Dr. King for which so many fought and sacrificed is in danger of being lost to another generation.  Our community needs supportive and shared leadership along with practical solutions and adequate resources that will assist students in the pathway to restoration and transformation.

We believe that we all are responsible for addressing the problem, and the Agenda identifies four primary areas that impact educational outcomes for students and families. 

·        Promote educational policies and practices (including personnel assignments, training and evaluation) that advance rather than impede educational excellence for all African American students.

·        Improve high school graduation rates for all African American Students.

·        Improve educational outcomes for both African American male and female students.

·        Provide support for parents and families of underachieving African American students.