Southern Education Foundation: A Legacy of Advancing Education Opportunity

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) stands as a beacon of hope and progress in the landscape of education, particularly for underserved students in the South. With a history stretching back to 1867, the organization has been instrumental in shaping education policies, fostering leadership, and driving research to promote equity and opportunity for students of color and those from low-income families.

A Historical Overview: From Peabody Fund to Modern Advocacy

The roots of SEF can be traced to the George Peabody Fund, established in 1867 by Northern philanthropist George Peabody in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Fund's initial mission was to educate the newly emancipated population, their children, and poor White children in the South. This marked the beginning of a long-standing commitment to addressing educational disparities in the region.

In 1937, the Peabody Fund merged with three other foundations-the John F. Slater Fund, the Negro Rural School Fund, and the Virginia Randolph Fund-to form the Southern Education Foundation as it is known today. This consolidation of resources and expertise allowed SEF to broaden its reach and deepen its impact on education in the South. The phrase "Southern Education Foundation: Since 1867" reflects this evolution from the Peabody Education Fund.

Core Focus Areas: Research, Policy, and Leadership Development

SEF's work is strategically focused on three key areas: government affairs and advocacy, leadership development, and research and policy. These pillars form the foundation of the organization's efforts to advance education equity and opportunity.

Research and Policy: Illuminating Inequities and Guiding Solutions

SEF's commitment to research and data-driven analysis has been a cornerstone of its success. The organization's reports, including the "Miles to Go" series, have brought attention to critical issues in education, informing policy debates and shaping interventions. SEF leverages research to identify and highlight issues that impact student learning outcomes along racial and socioeconomic lines. This evidence is then used to provide capacity-building support to school system leaders and advocates.

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Government Affairs and Advocacy: Championing Equitable Policies

SEF actively engages with policymakers at the state and federal levels to advocate for equitable education policies. By relaying lessons learned from classrooms and advocacy efforts, SEF offers information to policymakers that is relevant to their specific Southern state context. This approach helps advance an accountability structure rooted in equity. SEF meets regularly with legislators and other leaders to push for more plentiful and equitable school resources, new investments in HBCUs, and other steps forward.

Leadership Development: Cultivating a New Generation of Education Leaders

Recognizing the importance of strong leadership in driving change, SEF invests in developing emerging and experienced leaders in education. These programs equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to champion equity and opportunity in their communities. Benefiting from such distinguished leadership, SEF would build a long tradition of supporting the growth of leaders who advocated for improvements and more equitable education opportunities for students. We awarded W.E.B. DuBois his first fellowship - allowing him to continue his graduate education and publish his powerful book, The Souls of Black Folk.

A Pivotal Role in Landmark Legal Battles

SEF's impact extends beyond policy advocacy and leadership development. The organization played a pivotal role in providing research and support for landmark legal battles that have shaped the course of education in the United States.

Brown v. Board of Education: A Turning Point in Education

Notably, SEF housed the research team that supported the lawyers who argued the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. This Supreme Court decision, which declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional, marked a turning point in the fight for education equity. Just before the Brown decision in May 1954, colleges and universities in the South refused to house a team of researchers examining the state of education for Black students. Additionally, when no other southern university or hotel would house them, SEF acted both as a research facility and living quarters for the research on the state of Black education in the South for the landmark Brown v.

Addressing Ongoing Desegregation Efforts

Even after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, many school districts in the South remained segregated. SEF has continued to provide support and resources to these districts to help them address inequities and comply with federal desegregation orders. Several of these districts sought assistance from EAC-South in the past two years, underscoring the ongoing need for federal oversight and support.

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Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

SEF has been a long-time supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), recognizing their vital role in providing educational opportunities for Black students and fostering Black leadership. SEF also played an important role in the founding and growth of many HBCUs, including Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Spelman College, Morehouse College, Winston-Salem State University, Jackson State University, and Tuskegee University. We have also helped HBCUs meet tougher accreditation standards and improve the efficiencies of their operations.

Addressing Modern Challenges: Equity Assistance Centers and Beyond

In addition to its historical contributions, SEF continues to address contemporary challenges in education. The organization operates the Equity Assistance Center-South, a federally funded center that serves school districts, states, and educators as they work to eliminate disparities based on race and other factors. The center’s work focused on helping schools address inequities that have persisted from the nation’s legacy of racial segregation in public education. Originally called Desegregation Assistance Centers, EAC-South is one of the four Equity Assistance Centers across the nation. Until last month, EAC-South provided critical resources and expertise to school districts across 11 states and the District of Columbia-at the direct request from school districts.

The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) is a research, policy, advocacy and leadership development organization that works to advance education opportunity for underserved students. Founded in 1867 as the Peabody Fund, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing more equal education policies and practices, especially for students of color and from low-income families.

Combating Attempts to Undermine Equity Initiatives

SEF has also been vocal in its opposition to efforts to undermine equity initiatives, such as the Trump administration's attempt to eliminate Equity Assistance Centers. “Eliminating these centers and their work is a direct attack on the achievements of the Black Civil Rights Movement that led to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” said SEF President and CEO Raymond C. Pierce. “The administration’s attempt to close these centers is alarming, unprecedented, and clearly unconstitutional.

Recent Developments and Future Directions

SEF has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding its staff and broadening its reach. At a time when many political forces threaten justice and equity, SEF is undergoing a significant expansion. In recent years, our team at SEF has nearly doubled in size, to nearly 30 staff members. SEF is now poised to make its greatest impact in decades in advancing our mission toward greater education opportunity.

MacKenzie Scott's Transformative Gift

In 2022, SEF received a transformative gift of $6 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This generous contribution will support SEF's ongoing work to advance equity of education and opportunity for Black students, other students of color, and students from low-income families across the South.

Outcomes Based Contracting

Supporting investments that work. Our Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) program supports the growing number of school districts that require clear benefits to students for vendors providing high-impact tutoring and other services are paid in full. The OBC approach is shifting the paradigm for school-resource investments and opening the door for additional investments in education.

The Enduring Legacy and Ongoing Commitment

The Southern Education Foundation's history is a testament to its unwavering commitment to advancing education opportunity for all students. From its origins as the Peabody Fund to its current role as a leading voice for equity in education, SEF has consistently worked to dismantle barriers and create pathways to success for underserved students. While the challenges may be different, our commitment remains the same. Segregation in concert with concentrated poverty is toxic to learning.

As SEF looks to the future, it remains dedicated to its mission of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. By continuing to invest in research, policy advocacy, and leadership development, SEF is poised to make an even greater impact on education in the South and beyond.

Leadership and Staff

The staff and board of SEF is intentionally reflective of the very students we serve. Many of us are first generation college students, HBCU alumnae, we hail from small towns and major metropolitan areas that have some of the greatest educational disparities in the U.S and in the process have borne witness to some of the most challenged schools in the South and beyond. Raymond C. Pierce is the president and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation.

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