Data shows that there has been a steady increase in educational attainment among Black Ohioans over the course of nearly a century, as illustrated above. During Black History Month and every month, we celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Black communities that strengthen our country and the state of Ohio. While Black communities have faced barriers to justice, including access to quality education, they remain resilient.

Education is a longstanding value of Black communities as demonstrated by the United Negro College Fund’s well-known slogan: “The mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.”

Previous HPIO work has found that education is an important social driver of health and is associated with better health and a longer life. While educational attainment alone does not guarantee improved outcomes without addressing other barriers, a gap in education attainment still exists. It is important for Ohio to support polices that provide and protect equitable access to quality education.