Webinar | February 21, 2025

Brown at 70: Has Desegregation Worked?

Hosted by the Learning Policy Institute and the Spencer Foundation

Co-sponsored by the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators and the National Coalition on Education Equity

Detail of painting by Jacob Lawrence, The Library

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this video belong solely to the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the perspective of the Learning Policy Institute.

More than 70 years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, the journey toward educational equity continues to be marked by both progress and challenges. What milestones have been reached? What lessons emerge from setbacks? And what strategies can advance opportunities for all students? Join prominent education and civil rights experts and contributors to a new book on this topic as they explore the historical, current, and future landscape of American education through the lens of Brown. This conversation is especially timely as fundamental rights and equity issues are being hotly contended once again.

Since Brown, brief progress in desegregation has been made yet it has often lacked successful integration and supportive school environments. Recent political and policy shifts have reversed gains, with school segregation, which is now back to 1970s levels. Addressing this and renewing efforts for integration and equity in education requires understanding the intersections of race, school finance, and desegregation policies.

This is the third webinar in a four-part series where prominent education and civil rights experts explore the historical, current, and future landscape of American education through the lens of Brown. Learn more about the series ▸

Speakers

Ary Amerikaner, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Brown’s Promise
Adam Clark, Superintendent, Mt. Diablo Unified School District (CA); President, California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators
Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute; Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus, Stanford University (moderator)
Gary Orfield, Distinguished Research Professor of Education, Law, Political Science and Urban Planning, UCLA; Co-Director, The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles at UCLA
Maisha Winn, Professor, Stanford University Excellence in Learning Graduate School of Education; Faculty Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, Equity in Learning Initiative

Due to technical difficulties, Gary Orfield was unable to join the webinar but stay tuned for a videotaped conversation between him and Linda Darling-Hammond to be posted on this page soon.

Host and cosponsor logos of organizations for Brown at 70 webinar series