What is Color of Education?
Color of Education is a partnership between the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity, Public School Forum of North Carolina, the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, and the Center for Child and Family Policy. The Annual Color of Education Summit brings together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in education.
Sandra Wilcox Conway of Conway and Associates also provided key partnership design for Color of Education. The partnership seeks to build bridges across the fields of research, policy, and practice and bring together the knowledge and perspectives of communities, educators, policymakers, experts and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity and dismantling systemic racism in education across the state of North Carolina.
The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity (Flood Center) exists to eradicate educational inequities outlined in a 2016 publication titled Study Group XVI: Expanding Educational Opportunity in North Carolina. The publication, published by the Public School Forum, highlights seven domains of racial inequity in education: school resegregation, the opportunity gap, teacher diversity, culturally responsive pedagogy, discipline disparities, overrepresentation of students of color in special education, and lack of access to advanced coursework for students of color. Color of Education builds bridges across the fields of research, policy and practice to transform racial equity dialogue into action-oriented approaches and policies that address the seven domains of racial inequity in education.
Keynote
About Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr.
New York Times Bestselling Author & James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University
One of the nation’s most prominent scholars, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. is an author, political commentator, public intellectual and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings,
including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America and the New York Times bestseller Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, take a wide look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy.
Plenary Speaker
About Dr. Nyah Hamlett
Nyah Hamlett began as Superintendent for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) on January 1, 2021. Under Dr. Hamlett’s leadership, the district serves approximately 12,000 students and 2,000 employees in 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, an alternative school, and a school for young people being treated at UNC Hospital.
Following 2+ years of leading CHCCS through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hamlett is pleased that the district’s on-time graduation rate increased in 2023 to a new CHCCS record of 94.8%. Additionally, CHCCS achieved a noticeable “bounce-back” from unfinished learning, such as:
- Year-over-year 3rd grade Black reading: Up 11.1 percentage points (to 37.5% from 26.4%)
- Year-over-year 3rd grade Latinx reading: Up 3.9 percentage points (to 41.8% from 37.9%)
- Same cohort: 4th grade Black reading: Up 3.8 percentage points (to 30.2% from 26.4% when the same students were 3rd graders)
Dr. Hamlett also recognizes that there is still much HEARTwork to be done to get students and some student groups to where she knows they can be. The 2027 strategic plan under Dr. Hamlett’s leadership calls for CHCCS to ‘Think (and Act) Differently’. Dr. Hamlett believes that every student in CHCCS deserves a high-quality, affirming education and the support to develop to their fullest potential. As a result, Dr. Hamlett strives to model the district’s core values of engagement, social justice action, collective efficacy, wellness and joy on a daily basis.
REGISTER
Tickets are available for the 2024 Color of Education Summit to be held virtually on September 27th and hybrid on September 28th. The Color of Education Summit brings together educators, students, policymakers, researchers, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders focused on achieving equity and eliminating racial disparities in education. This year’s theme is Collective Action: People & The Arc of Justice.
A limited number of FREE tickets are available for teachers and students click here to request a free ticket. There is currently a waitlist for free educator and student tickets.
To learn more and register for the summit visit the official event page.
Pre-order your Color of Education T-Shirt for $25 by selecting the t-shirt ticket option during the registration process. T-shirts can be picked up at the summit or shipped.
*click image to enlarge*
Help us spread the word for the 2024 Color of Education Summit! The folder linked below includes email and social media language, graphics, and videos that can be used to share the summit with your networks. Please feel free to update and personalize these messages before sending them to those in your networks. As additional details are finalized this language will be updated so please check back to ensure you are using the most current updates for the summit. If you have questions please contact Malasia McClendon at mmcclendon@ncforum.org.
PROGRAM ADVERTISEMENTS
Is your organization or business dedicated to eradicating racial inequities in education? Are you located in North Carolina? Do you have an initiative, service or program that you would like to promote? If so, place an ad for your organization or business in our Color of Education Summit Booklet!
The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity will host its annual Color of Education Summit bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in education on September 28th, 2024. This is a great opportunity for organizations an businesses dedicated to eradicating racial inequities in education to build awareness about your mission and services!
Click here to apply for an advertisement in the official Color of Education Program Booklet all submissions must be received and paid by September 3, 2024 to be included in the program booklet.
Ads will be placed in our Color of Education Summit Booklet are priced as follows
- $100 + ($4.50 processing fee) for a half a page Ad
- $200 + ($9.00 processing fee) for a full page Ad
For reference, the 2023 Color of Education Program Booklet can be viewed here.
VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES
Is your organization or business dedicated to eradicating racial inequities in education? Are you located in North Carolina? Do you have an initiative, service, or program that you would like to promote?
The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity will host its annual Color of Education Summit, bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in education on September 28th, 2024. This is a great opportunity for organizations and businesses dedicated to eradicating racial inequities in education to network and collaborate across the state! If you are interested in this opportunity and meet the requirements outlined below, please complete the Vendor application here.
We will follow the following schedule for acceptance communication.
| Date | Description |
| July 22nd | Registration Forms are due |
| July 23rd – 26th | Registration Form Review |
| Mid-Late August | First round of decisions communicated |
| August 5th – September 3rd | Applications Accepted on Rolling Basis |
Vendor Requirements:
All accepted vendors will need to meet the following requirements.
Mission alignment
- All vendor missions and visions must align with this year’s Color of Education theme as well as the mission and goals of the Dudley Flood Center.
Time Commitment:
- All vendors must be able to attend the summit all day and be present at their booth or table for the duration of the summit.
Space:
- Each vendor will have a designated space and a table but must set up and maintain the integrity of the space and materials (table and chairs) used. All vendors are responsible for items displayed during the summit.
Payment:
- All vendors will pay a vendor fee of $146.30 [Price of an in-person ticket ($100) + Vendor fee of $40 + 4.5% Service Fee ($6.30)]. This will give you access to the entire Color of Education program.
HISTORY COUNTS AWARD
This award recognizes leaders (students/educators/community members/organizations) who promote history, democracy, civic engagement and community to build a path to support youth in PK – 20 settings to develop and implement social justice projects across the state.
The History Counts award recipients will be announced at the annual Color of Education Summit on September 28, 2024, as part of the Guiding Committee’s recognition and support of the Color of Education Summit.
The 2024 application for the History Counts Award has passed. To learn more about History Counts please visit https://floodcenter.org/history-counts/.
SPONSOR COLOR OF EDUCATION
Calling all education champions! Be a catalyst for change by sponsoring Color of Education. As a partner you will join us in promoting equity in education. Together, we can build an education system that protects & supports every student. If you are interested in sponsoring the Color of Education please contact Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith at dtownsend-smith@ncforum.org or use the button below to donate now.
2024 SPONSORS
Sandra & Peter Conway
Official Color of Education Bookstore
We are excited to announce that Flyleaf books will be the official book vendor for the 2024 Color of Education Summit!
Preorder your books below for the 2024 Color of Education Summit. The books will be unsigned and available for pickup at the conference, where customers will have an opportunity to meet the author and have their books signed.
The deadline to submit presentation proposals has passed. Applicants who submitted a proposal will be notified by late July. Please direct questions about this submission form and/or the selection process to floodcenterinfo@ncforum.org.
Color of Education 2023
The Path Forward: Co-Creating Equitable Spaces
Testimonials
“It was refreshing to attend an in-person conference and be able to network with other like-minded folks. The attention to detail and the quality of the presenters was outstanding. I walked away with new strategies and ways of implementing them in my work with teachers and early childhood programs.”
– Attendee, Color of Education 2023
“This was my first attendance at the Color of Education Summit, and it really exceeded my expectations!! It was a wonderful learning experience… The event was super organized and all of the speakers were sensational!! What an incredibly powerful event.”
– Attendee, Color of Education 2023
“I left here on fire. Thank you for bringing together so many allies and advocates. We need this as an ongoing community to fight back for public education in our state.”
– Attendee, Color of Education 2023
“This was fantastic and a major turning point and catalyst to action for me and many others”
– Attendee, Color of Education 2023
