Red State That Banned DEI Release Study Indicating Programs ‘Fall Short,’ Leave Black Students Lagging Behind Peers

The Texas Higher 🎓Education Coordinating Board released a study Sunday that found diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs did not improve educational outcomes for black students in the state.

Texas banned DEI offices and programs at colleges and universities in 2023, requiring institutions to instead use merit-based approaches. The board’s study, which used data from 2022 and 2023 before the law went into effect, showed that black students were lagging behind their peers even with DEI policies.

“Ensuring all Texas students have the opportunity to succeed will directly strengthen our workforce and economy,” the report reads. “While it’s too early to assess the impact of SB 17, continuous monitoring of student outcomes is critical to improving efficiency and maximizing the potential of our future workforce.”

The six-year graduation rate for black students attending a four-year college in Texas remains several percentage points behind other races at 51% compared to 83% for Asians, 60% for Hispanic students and 73% for white students, according to the study. Only 78% of black students remained at their institution after the first year, a number that drops to 70% after their second year compared to 94% and 91% for Asian students, respectively.