Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education

"Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education" details historically black colleges and universities' (HBCUs) longstanding efforts to provide quality educational experiences for their students and how their success may be translated in K-12 schools. This brief uplifts research-based HBCU best practices, practical recommendations and insights from HBCU leaders, with the goal of promoting mutually beneficial alliances between the K-12 and higher education communities. The outlined lessons in the report rest on the following best practices that HBCUs employ: (1) cultivating nurturing support systems; (2) leveraging African American culture and identity; and (3) setting high expectations. Each best practice also details corresponding lessons for the K-12 space. These HBCU "best practices" can serve as effective models for K-12 schools, districts and charter management organizations (CMOs) in improving the educational outcomes of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.