Policy Article Review
Introduction
This article comes from the Associated Press and discusses a decision made by Faribault
school board, a southern Minnesota school district regarding the acceptance of a $1.1 million
state grant aimed at curbing drug use among students of color. The article entails the debate
among board members, community input, and implications that it imposes for students of the
BIPOC community and what it means for those students not of color.
Topic Discussion
The article discusses significant policy issues in education, particularly those related to
equity and inclusion. Within the article it discusses the debate surrounding the acceptance of the
grant, questions of resource allocation, support for marginalized communities, and the role of
education in addressing social issues such as substance abuse. There were different perspectives
amongst board members regarding the fairness of targeting resources towards students of color
and versus ensuring equitable support for all students. Only one of the board members voted
against this bill. Previously this grant decision was deadlocked and people within the community
were shattered that the school district struggled whether to support the BIPOC community or not.
This proposed a concern since over half of the student populations in this geographic area are
people of color. Nationally, “The percentage of people aged 12 or older in 2022 who used illicit
drugs in the past year was higher among Multiracial people (35.1%) than among Black (26.7%),
White (25.8%), Hispanic (23.5%), or Asian people (13.6%). (National Survey on Drug Use and
Health, n.d.) With populations becoming more diverse implying specific uses of funds for people
of colors is imperative to meet current student needs.
Policy Article Review
Educational Implications
This policy/grant has several educational implications such as addressing inclusion,
community involvement, and student well-being. First, it is important to acknowledge and
address the unique needs and challenges faced by BIPOC students within educational settings.
By accepting the grant, the school district provides targeted support and resources to address
drug use among these students and becomes that stepping stone to ensure student success and
well being. This implementation of the policy/grant specifically shows that that bridge between
the community and schools are significant in shaping educational policy and decision-making
processes.
Policy Article Review
References
Associated Press. (2022, December 5). Minnesota Board accepts Anti-Drug aid for
minority students. US News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-
states/minnesota/articles/2022-12-05/minnesota-board-stalls-addiction-help-for-minority-
students
National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (n.d.). https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-
collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health
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