Kayla Patrick

Kayla Patrick is a senior education policy analyst with a deep interest in using data-based analysis to inform U.S. education policy and practices, especially to improve the lives of underserved children of color. Her expertise includes school discipline policies and college and career readiness. Kayla worked at the National Women’s Law Center, where she conducted research and data analysis on critical issues that impact women and girls. While there, she led a team to produce a well-publicized report, Let Her Learn: Stopping School Pushout for Girls. She also co-authored a report with 20 Black girls in Washington D.C. titled “Dress Coded,” which highlighted the harmful effects of dress codes on girls’ education. This work was recently cited in the education platform of 2020 presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren and will soon be featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's exhibit on girlhood. Kayla received her bachelor's degree in political science from Wellesley College and her master's in education policy from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Posts By Kayla Patrick

student achievement

Black and Latino Students Are Locked Out of Advanced Classes While White Students Reap the Benefits

In schools across America, Black and Latino students are being pushed into less advanced courses, while their White peers reap the benefits of taking advanced classes, setting them up for better...

Diversity

We Need to Stop Pulling Black Girls Out of Schools for Dress Code Violations

Dress code enforcement is as American as apple pie. Most of us have had some experience with dress codes, either in school or the workplace. And like all other things American, dress codes often...

bias

#MyBlackHistory Has Been and Still Is Fighting for the Right to Learn

To commemorate Black History Month, Education Post is featuring stories from parents, students and educators that connect past to present in the continued fight for better schools for Black...

School Discipline

Are We Finally Putting an End to Corporal Punishment? It’s About Time.

This morning the Obama administration has called for an end to the use of corporal punishment, with Education Secretary John King urging states and school districts that still allow it to “eliminate...

Achievement Gap

The College Debt Crisis Is Real, But Let’s First Talk About Getting Our Kids to College and Graduating

This election season, discussions on education policy have been scarce, with issues in k-12 education almost non-existent. Republican candidates have focused their education talking points on...

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