Ain't No Love In The Heart Of Philly: Jay-Z Dragged For $300M Educational Campaign To Send Low-Incom

Source: Jonathan Moscrop / Getty

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and Jay-Z may just be on his way after a new initiative for Philadelphia schools.

Jay-Z's Roc Nation will spearhead an educational campaign in Philadelphia that helps students K-12 from low-income households secure about $300 million in scholarships to attend the city's private schools.

Events will be held by Roc Nation to bring awareness to Pennsylvania... pic.twitter.com/yRmaaUC3jo

— XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 7, 2024

Beyonce's husband and his company Roc Nation announced a $300M educational campaign for low-income Philadelphia students, PEOPLE reports. And the internet had a lot to say about it.

I really wish rich, out-of-touch folks who nothing about education would just stop. 1) Read the fine print. THIS IS A GOVT VOUCHER PROGRAM. Voucher programs have not been shown to improve results for poor Black children because most cannot get into high-quality private schools.... https://t.co/EAvAGFuYo1

— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 7, 2024

According to the X streets, Mr. Carter's initiative builds on a problematic Republican-backed plan to gut public school funding and negatively impact the children who attend them. Pulitzer prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones helped to break down the issue with the move.

The $300 million ain't coming from Jay-Z nor Roc Nation. The $300 million is coming from the state's tax payers and could be used to help turn around those low-performing schools instead of giving a windfall to unaccountable private schools. No. https://t.co/LxpMP5FIsP

— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 7, 2024

"Stop playing with us. Not only do students who go to private schools on vouchers not perform better, 1 out of 5 leaves the private school and actually see improved academic results by returning to the public school," she wrote.

Roc Nation pitched the idea as a continuation of their relationship with the city of Brotherly Love. Philly has also played host to their Made In America festival since 2012.

"We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so we've made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the city's changemakers," Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said in a statement. "Impact starts with the students and with awareness. We want to empower the youth and families with the knowledge to pursue their scholastic dreams, make their voices heard and become the leaders of tomorrow."

Whether Jay-Z or the upper middle-class family on the block: if you have resources and don't allocate them to local public schools, you are making a moral and political choice. Taking children out of public schools in favor of private IS PRECISELY what hurts the most vulnerable.

— Karlie Hustle (@THEkarliehustle) June 7, 2024

Still, many feel that the initiative completely misses the mark and instead harms the students who would benefit most from increased funding. The money is also, reportedly, not coming directly from either Jay-Z or Roc Nation but Philadelphia taxpayers.

Just to be clear for those not in Pennsylvania, the legislation Jay-Z is supporting here is a Republican-led effort to gut public education, spearheaded by future Trump cabinet member Jeffrey Yass. https://t.co/BURqIa3sJZ

— Phil Gentry (@pmgentry) June 7, 2024

The proposed school voucher program has happened in other urban cities where charter schools have overtaken public schools amid massive closures and underfunding.

Said differently:

As Pennsylvania is on the verge of transforming the most inequitable school funding system in the nation, an out-of-state billionaire is pairing with a suburban Philadelphia one to try to destroy public education instead. https://t.co/4VucsDiMCw

— Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg (@Dan_UA) June 7, 2024

Here's to hoping the "Hard Knock Life" artist is simply playing checkers not chess. Only time will tell.



via: https://bossip.com/2659257/jay-z-dragged-for-300-million-educational-campaign-to-send-low-income-students-to-private-schools/