President Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court. She has decades of judicial and public service experience, including 8 years on the D.C. District Court and almost a year on the D.C. Circuit Court, widely recognized as the second most powerful court in the United States.
The daughter of public school teachers, Judge Jackson graduated from a public high school, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School. She is the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court. In its entire 233-year history, just 5 women (none Black) and 2 Black men have served as justices; 108 have been white men.
The significance of nominating a Black woman goes beyond conversations about historic firsts. We need a court whose lived experience reflects America, a court that gives voice to a range of views—especially on issues of enduring concern to educators.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings, vote on her nomination, and then the full Senate will vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) promised a swift process with a timeline similar to that for Amy Coney Barrett, who was confirmed 30 days after being nominated. We look forward to a fair confirmation process based on Judge Jackson’s record and credentials.
As I write, Congress is finalizing bills to fund the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies for the rest of FY2022. We continue to push for significant increases for programs serving the students most in need like Title I, special education, Pell grants, and community schools.
We’re also pushing for federal legislation to expand full-service community schools featuring a suite of support services for students and families—everything from health and nutrition services to mentoring programs.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
Judge Jackson is a brilliant jurist, highly qualified, has impeccable credentials, and is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. She will uphold the law fairly and equally, and protect the rights of all of us—not just the wealthy and powerful.
COVID and its aftermath have exacerbated inequities and accelerated growth in educator shortages. To reverse these trends, we need a final FY2022 funding bill that includes historic increases in education funding that target the students most in need.
Reimagine public schools as community hubs to meet the needs of the whole child featuring integrated support services, expanded and enriched learning opportunities, and family and community engagement.
