African American Student Initiative Announced by President Obama

President Obama announced that he will be creating a new education initiative targeted to improving the achievement levels of African Americans in education. While in New Orleans giving a speech to the Urban League, the president stated that he would sign an order putting the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans into place.
This new educational initiative “works to make sure that all African American students can receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion and productive careers,” Obama said.
This initiative will be work with the Executive Office of the President and cabinet agencies to identify evidence-based practices to improve African American students’ achievement in school and coll,ege. The White House stated that this initiative will also work to “develop a national network of individuals, organizations and communities that will share and implement these practices.” The goal of this initiative will be to ensure that African American students have the same opportunities as other students.
In 1990 a similar program was instituted for Hispanic students under President George H.W. Bush. All of the succeeding presidents after him have signed orders to extend that initiative.
The new initiative focusing on African American education is the President Obama’s attempt at making higher education a possibility for all Americans. The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans is the first initiative set in motion to target African American students.