Publications

Chock full of provocative data, analysis, and lessons from the field, our publications aim to get to the core of closing gaps in opportunity and achievement. By exploring practices and policies that work and identifying those that don’t, we aim to provide the information and tools necessary to advance educational justice.

Our publications are intended for educators, advocates, lawmakers, and  parents. Use the links below to sort by issue areas or the search bar to explore topics you don’t see here.


The Education Trust invites the use of its publications and presentations. For limited personal and noncommercial uses, you are free to download our materials and share them with others as long as the materials are not altered in any way and are properly attributed to The Education Trust and, if applicable, a particular author. For these purposes, noncommercial means not primarily intended for or directed toward commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For commercial and other uses, such as including materials in course packets or reprinting materials or excerpts in textbooks, you must obtain written permission. Read more about our policy. 

  • Parent PLUS Loans Are a Double-Edged Sword for Black Borrowers

    Approximately 43 million Americans collectively owe $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt, but students aren’t the only ones drowning in student debt. Inc…

  • Income-Driven Repayment Plans Fail Black Borrowers

    Approximately 43 million Americans collectively owe $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt, but this debt is not borne equally by all. Black borrowers are …

  • How Student Debt Harms Black Borrowers’ Mental Health

    Approximately 45 million Americans carry $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, but the financial challenges facing Black borrowers are numerous. Black students a…

  • How Black Women Experience Student Debt

    Forty-five million Americans collectively owe $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, and women hold nearly two-thirds of it. But because of the gender pay gap, wo…

  • Jim Crow Debt

    Student debt has been a crisis for years, and the pandemic has only exacerbated matters for many borrowers. This is especially true for Black borrowers, who ar…