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THE PESA POST

The latest news, views and announcements from

Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action


July 06, 2023

RECENT SCOTUS RULING REENFORCES NEED FOR PESA’S SERVICES

The highest court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard College demonstrates the continued need for PESA’s work at the forefront of educational equity

Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States struck an indelible blow to educational equity by ruling that affirmative action is unconstitutional. While the Supreme Court’s erroneous decision took away a powerful tool in promoting equity in the educational sphere, PESA remains committed to providing the community’s youth services to bridge the opportunity gap.


PESA actively engages in promoting educational equity through our Civic Engagement Program. The aim of this program is to educate  youth to become responsible community advocates and inspire the next generation of attorneys, social justice advocates and community organizers, who will be the voice of underserved communities.We are confident that the youth we educate today, will be instrumental agents of change tomorrow.


PESA also recognizes that one of the primary barriers to educational equity is the financial advantage that students from privileged communities have over those raised in underserved communities. When considering which students to accept, higher education institutions often put a premium on participation in extracurricular activities. Those from privileged backgrounds have families that can afford to fund these activities and have the time to transport them to events. Those from our underserved communities often do not. Subsequently, those from privileged families have a better chance of being admitted to these institutions. At PESA, we strive to provide both the necessary funding and transportation services to underserved students so that they can pursue extracurricular opportunities they can incorporate into their college applications. Ultimately, this contributes to equalizing these students’ chances of admission to higher education institutions.


Furthermore, youth from privileged communities typically enter kindergarten with a basic knowledge of math and reading, whereas many students from underserved communities do not. Unless they are brought up to grade level by middle school, at the latest, they are unable to take advantage of Advanced Placement (AP) classes offered at their high schools. Since college admissions value AP coursework and exams, this serves as yet another barrier for students from underserved backgrounds. However, PESA provides specialized tutoring that emphasizes interpretive thinking and reading comprehension, so that these youth are equipped with the tools to take on a more academically rigorous course load.


This is not to say that PESA does not understand the need for affirmative action, it just means PESA is not sitting idly by until decision makers rectify their flawed mind-set and reaffirm  affirmative action. A healthy democracy requires a healthy education system, one that is equitable to all. Only then can leaders be a true representation of our diverse communities. PESA is devoted to this cause in all facets of our society including political, financial and educational. Through our programs that promote educational equity, we will remain instrumental in bridging the opportunity gap for the community’s youth. 


If you’d like to support PESA’s many social and educational initiatives, please contact us.

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