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Education and Civil Rights Initiative

Website:

education.uky.edu/civil-rights/
Location:

Lexington, KY
Status:

Research Collaborative between NAACP and University of Kentucky
Formation:

2020
Type:

Education Advocacy Organization
Executive Director:

Gregory Vincent

Education and Civil Rights Initiative is a $10 million research initiative between the University of Kentucky and the left-of-center NAACP. 1 Founded in 2020, the Initiative is the first example of direct collaboration between the NAACP and a higher education institution. 2

The Initiative focuses on so-called “equity and social justice” issues, 3 hosts conferences on the importance of critical race theory, 4 and conducts “equity audits” of school districts. 5 Initiative-sponsored conferences have focused on how to implement critical race theory-inspired concepts in English, literature, literacy, social studies, science, and math classrooms in K-12 schools. 6

In September 2020, Gregory Vincent, the Initiative’s director, moderated an event entitled “Critical Race Theory: Why it Matters and What it Teaches Us,” which identified the race-based model of education as a useful tool for approaching discussions and events related to race. 7

History and Leadership

Education and Civil Rights Initiative is a $10 million research initiative 8 between the University of Kentucky and the NAACP that was initiated in 2020 at an event which included NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. 9

Gregory Vincent is the Executive Director of the Education and Civil Rights Initiative. 10 Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, Vincent held the W.K. Kellogg Professorship in Community College Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin, 11 which is funded by the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 12

Vincent teaches critical race theory-inspired concepts such as “educational equity” and “social justice” at the University of Kentucky. 13 He supports race-based affirmative action policies for college admissions, 14 has said that “at a certain point, grades and test points become less important” when it comes to college admissions, 15 and said that the U.S. has been “grappling with the issue of equity” since before Brown v. Board of Education. 16 In 2015, he led a panel at the South By Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, about the impact of the left-wing Black Lives Matter movement. 17

Activities and Funding

Education and Civil Rights Initiative is a critical race theory-influenced education advocacy organization inside of the University of Kentucky’s College of Education that operates in collaboration with the NAACP. 18 The Initiative focuses on so-called “equity and social justice” issues, 19 hosts conferences on the importance of critical race theory, 20 and conducts so-called “equity audits” of school districts. 21

Students and educators in the Initiative explore the nuances of “intersectional identities” and “race-based discrimination” 22 and train upcoming teachers on critical race theory-inspired topics such as “educational equity” and “social justice.” 23 The initiative offers workshops for teachers to develop critical race theory-inspired “anti-racist” Black History Month activities and new school curriculums. 24

In September 2020, Gregory Vincent, the Initiative’s director, moderated an event entitled “Critical Race Theory: Why it Matters and What it Teaches Us,” which identified the race-based model of education as a useful tool for approaching discussions and events related to race. 25

In May 2021, the Initiative hosted the virtual Education and Civil Rights for the New Decade conference, which focused on the critical race theory-inspired concept of “equity” and featured speakers from left-of-center organizations including the NAACP, American Association of Community Colleges, and the Southern Education Foundation. 26

On the second day of the conference, a session called “Implementing Anti-racist Education Across the Disciplines” focused on how to implement critical race theory-inspired concepts in English, literature, literacy, social studies, science, and math classrooms in K-12 schools. 27

Equity Audits

In 2021, the Education and Civil Rights Initiative partnered with Paducah Independent School District in Paducah, Kentucky, to establish the Paducah Racial Equity Initiative (REI). 28 The Initiative partnered with Paducah Schools to perform a critical race theory-inspired “equity audit” of the school’s curriculum, develop action plans, and create minority hiring plans for the district. 29 As a part of its activities, the Initiative distributed controversial “racial equity audit” surveys through the mail to parents and community members within Paducah Public Schools. 30

Also in 2021, the Initiative received a $15,000 contract to perform a so-called “equity audit” of the San Francisco Unified School District. 31

Funding

Education and Civil Rights Initiative receives funding from program service fees and donations to the Civil Rights Initiative Support Fund, which are routed through the University of Kentucky’s College of Education. 32

In 2021, the Initiative received $15,000 to perform a so-called “equity audit” of the San Francisco Unified School District. 33

References

  1. “College of Education.” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://education.uky.edu/civil-rights/.
  2. Nelson, Amanda. “UK Launches Civil Rights and Education Initiative With NAACP.” UK Now. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-launches-civil-rights-and-education-initiative-naacp.
  3. “Support the Education and Civil Rights Initiative in collaboration with the NAACP!” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/17118-education-and-civil-rights-initiative-in-collaboration-with-the-naacp.
  4. Photo. Instagram. Posted September 30, 2020, Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwpKdQAEQN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
  5. “Organization/Professional Services Contractor Agreement.” San Francisco Unified School District. FY2021-2022. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/University-of-Kentucky-College-of-Education-Education-and-Civil-Rights-Initiative_San-Francisco-USD_2021_02_15000-for-Professional-Servcies-Contractor-Agreement-FY-2021-2022.pdf.
  6. [1] “Event Schedule. “Education & Civil Rights for the New Decade Virtual Conference.” Education and Civil Rights Initiative. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://whova.com/embedded/event/ecrc_202101/?utc_source=ems#tab108.
  7. Photo. Instagram. Posted September 30, 2020, Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwpKdQAEQN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
  8. [1] WLKY Digital Team. “UK, NAACP  launch $10 million research initiative around racial disparity, inequity.” WLKY. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.wlky.com/article/uk-naacp-launch-dollar10-million-research-initiative-around-racial-disparity-inequity/33550780.
  9. Nelson, Amanda. “UK Launches Civil Rights and Education Initiative With NAACP.” UK Now. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-launches-civil-rights-and-education-initiative-naacp.
  10.  “Gregory Vincent, J.D., Ed.D.” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://education.uky.edu/profile/gregory-vincent/.
  11. “2015-2016 Annual Report.” University of Texas at Austin. 2016. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://utelementary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/UTES_AR_15-16_LoRez.pdf.
  12. [1] Fain, Paul. “Texas Shake-Up.” Inside Higher Ed. May 30, 2012. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/05/30/u-texas-community-college-leadership-programs-founder-moves-profit.
  13. “Gregory Vincent, J.D., Ed.D.” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://education.uky.edu/profile/gregory-vincent/.
  14. Kowalski, Nick. “UT-Austin Unrepentant on Affirmative Action.” Accuracy in Academia. May 11, 2015. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.academia.org/ut-austin-unrepentant-on-affirmative-action.
  15. Herder, Liann. “Supreme Court Seeks Biden Administration’s Advice on Harvard Case.” Diverse Issues in Higher Education. June 14, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.diverseeducation.com/demographics/asian-american-pacific-islander/article/15109448/supreme-court-seeks-biden-administrations-advice-on-harvard-case
  16. Snow, David B. “Paducah schools’ Racial Equity Initiative begins in earnest.” The Paducah Sun. March 24, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.paducahsun.com/news/paducah-schools-racial-equity-initiative-begins-in-earnest/article_d741e3cb-aecd-50c0-a3fd-6c9932dd68cb.html.
  17. “SXSW presents #BlackLivesMatter in Austin.” Culture Map Austin. March 15, 2015. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://austin.culturemap.com/eventdetail/sxsw-black-lives-matter-discussion-austin-2015/.
  18. “College of Education.” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://education.uky.edu/civil-rights/.
  19. “Support the Education and Civil Rights Initiative in collaboration with the NAACP!” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/17118-education-and-civil-rights-initiative-in-collaboration-with-the-naacp.
  20. Photo. Instagram. Posted September 30, 2020, Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwpKdQAEQN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
  21. “Organization/Professional Services Contractor Agreement.” San Francisco Unified School District. FY2021-2022. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/University-of-Kentucky-College-of-Education-Education-and-Civil-Rights-Initiative_San-Francisco-USD_2021_02_15000-for-Professional-Servcies-Contractor-Agreement-FY-2021-2022.pdf.
  22. Nelson, Amanda. “UK Launches Civil Rights and Education Initiative With NAACP.” UK Now. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-launches-civil-rights-and-education-initiative-naacp.
  23. [1] Nelson, Amanda. “UK Launches Civil Rights and Education Initiative With NAACP.” UK Now. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-launches-civil-rights-and-education-initiative-naacp.
  24. Nelson, Amanda. “UK Launches Civil Rights and Education Initiative With NAACP.” UK Now. August 7, 2020. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-launches-civil-rights-and-education-initiative-naacp.
  25. Photo. Instagram. Posted September 30, 2020, Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwpKdQAEQN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
  26. Nelson, Amanda. “Register Now for Education and Civil Rights for the New Decade.” May 4, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://education.uky.edu/register-now-for-education-and-civil-rights-for-the-new-decade/.
  27. “Event Schedule. “Education & Civil Rights for the New Decade Virtual Conference.” Education and Civil Rights Initiative. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://whova.com/embedded/event/ecrc_202101/?utc_source=ems#tab108.
  28. Snow, David B. “Paducah schools’ Racial Equity Initiative begins in earnest.” The Paducah Sun. March 24, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.paducahsun.com/news/paducah-schools-racial-equity-initiative-begins-in-earnest/article_d741e3cb-aecd-50c0-a3fd-6c9932dd68cb.html.
  29. Snow, David B. “Paducah schools’ Racial Equity Initiative begins in earnest.” The Paducah Sun. March 24, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.paducahsun.com/news/paducah-schools-racial-equity-initiative-begins-in-earnest/article_d741e3cb-aecd-50c0-a3fd-6c9932dd68cb.html.
  30. Adeleye, Temi. “Paducah Public Schools sending out racial equity initiative survey for parents, community.” Posted May 21, 2021. Updated May 23, 2021. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/paducah-public-schools-sending-out-racial-equity-initiative-survey-for-parents-community/article_a8e228c2-ba7d-11eb-a9a8-b7544e06b459.html.
  31.  “Organization/Professional Services Contractor Agreement.” San Francisco Unified School District. FY2021-2022. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/University-of-Kentucky-College-of-Education-Education-and-Civil-Rights-Initiative_San-Francisco-USD_2021_02_15000-for-Professional-Servcies-Contractor-Agreement-FY-2021-2022.pdf.
  32. “Support the Education and Civil Rights Initiative in collaboration with the NAACP!” University of Kentucky. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/17118-education-and-civil-rights-initiative-in-collaboration-with-the-naacp.
  33. [1] “Organization/Professional Services Contractor Agreement.” San Francisco Unified School District. FY2021-2022. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/University-of-Kentucky-College-of-Education-Education-and-Civil-Rights-Initiative_San-Francisco-USD_2021_02_15000-for-Professional-Servcies-Contractor-Agreement-FY-2021-2022.pdf.
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Education and Civil Rights Initiative

103 Dickey Hall
Lexington, KY