About NCEED

The Economic Case for NCEED

As the United States approaches its 250^th birthday, we must confront the degree to which Black and Latinx students are chronically unprepared for college and high-wage career opportunities.

What is the future of America when the very children on whom the nation will depend for its long-term economic security are habitually denied a quality education?

What are the prospects for this nation’s continued relevance on the global stage when the population of children that look like the world are denied opportunity?

These are important considerations when we consider the 21^st century knowledge economy and the technically proficient workforce that will be necessary to maintain the nation’s economic prominence into the next century. The children who will be the adults that will anchor the economy for the remainder of this century are currently enrolled in elementary and secondary schools across the country.

Our physical and communications infrastructure, natural and built environment, public health systems and technological capabilities will be dependent upon the degree we provide today’s Black and Latinx school children opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge in scientific, mathematics and technical areas. In addition, the maintenance of our democratic systems of governance and justice are dependent on a well educated citizenry.

Today, according to U.S. Census data, while Black Americans are 12.7% of the nation’s population, they hold just 5% of science and engineering occupations. Blacks are also just 5% of the nation’s doctors, 4% of all lawyers, 4.3% of all engineers and 5.1% of computer and math scientists. The dearth of Blacks in high-skill, high wage employment feeds a persistent wage gap that has been cited by organizations such as Associated Black Charities and impacts home ownership, investment in financial securities and the ability to pay local, state and federal taxes that contribute to the preservation of civil society.

NCEED’s Six Pillars of Work

1. Family, Student, and Teacher Academic Resilience( fStAR)
2. Urban Teachers and Leaders
3. Curriculum and Pedagogy
4. Cultural Proficiency
5. Literacy
6. Social, Emotional, and Psychological Well-being of Urban Children