For Immediate Release:
On June 29, 2024, the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) successfully hosted the Second National Conference on Equal Education Rights at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Unlike other educational conferences organized by the American establishment, this event directly confronted major flaws in America’s educational policymaking. These flaws include ignorance of global competition in technology, failure to address the STEM talent shortage, reluctance to tackle the K-12 education crisis in American inner cities, and an overly myopic focus on promoting woke DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) agendas.
This conference marked the largest gathering of equal education rights leaders, scholars, and supporters in America in years. Congressman Vince Fong sent a congratulatory letter, and Congresswoman Michelle Steel delivered a powerful online address.
During his welcome speech, AACE President Yukong Zhao challenged educational policymakers and school administrators to adopt a broader perspective—one that enables America to compete effectively in the 21st century instead of compromising equal education rights and meritocracy.
The big picture view of American education was further elaborated upon by Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez. He compellingly argued why America needs a meritocratic system. National Science Foundation Board Member Julia Phillips presented shocking evidence regarding the STEM talent shortage in America. Additionally, Xi Van Fleet, author of “Mao’s America,” shared the sobering lessons learned from China’s decision to abolish its meritocratic college entrance exam during the Cultural Revolution.
Under the big picture View, education advocates Paul Lott, University of Arkansas Education Policy Chair Jonathan Wai, and Yukong Zhao engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about the effectiveness and proper role of standardized testing in college admissions. Despite differing opinions, the panel reached a consensus: Standardized testing remains the best measure of students’ college readiness and should be a key requirement for college admissions.
During the conference, keynote speakers SFFA lawyer Patrick Strawbridge and US Civil Rights Commissioner Gail Heriot made significant contributions., Along with CFER President Frank Xu, they reviewed the success factors in winning SFFA cases and Californians’ fight against Proposition 16 and ACA7. Color Us United President Kenny Xu highlighted the challenges faced in the battle for equal education rights, including the impact of Woke Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideologies embraced by the American elite class. The media’s attacks on equal education rights advocates like Edward Blum and Yukong Zhao were also discussed.
UCLA law professor Richard Sander, drawing from data at the University of California, issued a warning: Progressives may use race proxies to circumvent the Supreme Court’s SFFA rulings. Vigilance in monitoring implementation processes is imperative. Representing AACE, Secretary Xiaoming Sheng presented policy recommendations for colleges to faithfully implement the Supreme Court’s SFFA rulings and restore meritocracy in college admissions.
The morning sessions delved into the Definition of Diversity and Better Ways to Improve Diversity in College Admission. TakeCharge President Kendall Qualls used compelling graphics to illustrate the root causes behind the lack of representation of Black students in American colleges—broken families and liberal policies being major contributors. Asian American Legal Foundation Secretary Lee Cheng, Center for Individual Rights President Todd Gaziano, and Center for Equal Opportunity President Devon Westhill challenged the claimed benefits of racial diversity, advocating instead for diversity of ideas on college campuses.
In the afternoon session, Pacific Legal Foundation Lawyer Erin Wilcox recounted their journey in supporting Asian Americans fighting for equal education rights in K-12 education. Updates on the Boston Exam School cases were shared. Grassroots Asian community leaders—Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Great New York founding president Wai Wah Chin, Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence president Bentao Cui, and Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Nomani—explained their motivations for championing education rights and meritocracy in K-12 education. They echoed the call for continued advocacy.
The conference concluded with AACE Vice-President Jack Ouyang expressing gratitude to distinguished speakers, conference organizers, volunteers, and participants. A group photo in front of the U.S. Supreme Court marked the one-year anniversary of the SCOTUS rulings on SFFA v Harvard/UNC cases.
Please click this link to view the insightful speeches delivered by our distinguished speakers. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOo_nmnrdk8WoHyvLQ1RkzWs-83WpXinq
Asian American Coalition for Education
Media Contact:
Dr. Zhenya Li, telephone: 240-406-4260, email: [email protected].
Dr. Sam Yan, telephone: 703-470-3292; email: [email protected].
About the AACE: www.asianamericanforeducation.org
Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) is a non-political, nonprofit, grassroots national alliance with over 300 partnering organizations nationwide. Since 2015, AACE have been mobilizing Asian communities to stand firmly behind SFFA and exposed the Ivy League college’s anti-Asian discrimination on the national stage. Over the last eight years, AACE teamed up with over 360 Asian American organizations, organized the Boston Rally in 2018 and “Equal Education for All” rally in 2022, encouraged Asian American students to join SFFA’s lawsuits, and filed five amicus briefs. Besides supporting SFFA, we have advanced the cause of equal education rights for the Asian-American community in many other areas, including federal adoption of AACE policy recommendation on college admissions in July 2018, federal lawsuit against Yale University in 2020, support to Asian Americans’ fights for equal education rights in Maryland, New York, Washington, California, Massachusetts and other states. AACE is the proven leader in fighting for Asian-American children’s equal educational rights.