Pastor Joshua Robertson Calls for Bold School Choice Reforms and Community-Driven Education

Pastor Joshua Robertson, founder and CEO of Black Pastors United for Education, argues that churches can play a powerful role in fixing America’s education crisis. His organization helps pastors turn unused church spaces into learning hubs, homeschool programs, and hybrid education centers. Robertson pushes for school choice and says families need more options beyond the traditional public school system, which he believes is too large, too bureaucratic, and not focused enough on core skills like reading and math. His passion comes from personal experience: he graduated high school reading at a first-grade level, failed out of college, and was briefly homeless before a bishop took him in and taught him to read. Robertson went on to earn a Division I football scholarship at the University of Minnesota, complete college, and graduate seminary with the highest GPA in his class. He says his story shows the system—not the students—is broken. Robertson wants communities, churches, and parents to embrace innovative, customized education models that meet the needs of children who are being left behind. He continues to spread this message nationally and will share it at the Pelican Institute’s Solutions Summit. His work and mission are available at bpue.org.