Statement from Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., the Board of Regents, and State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa

As we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are reminded that education is one of the most powerful tools we have to advance his vision of a Beloved Community, one rooted in justice, opportunity, and shared humanity. Dr. King believed that learning was not only a path to individual empowerment but a cornerstone of a fair and equitable society.

Today, that belief continues to guide our work. In classrooms across New York State, students bring with them unique voices, talents, and dreams. It is our responsibility—and our privilege—to help cultivate those gifts by ensuring that each student has access to a high-quality education, rich with opportunity and grounded in respect, dignity, and inclusion.

Building the Beloved Community requires all of us. It means creating schools where every student feels seen and supported, where educators are empowered to inspire, and where families and communities are valued partners in shaping the future. It calls on us to confront inequities with courage, to expand access with intention, and to open doors that have too often remained closed for too many.

Dr. King’s enduring legacy calls on us not only to reflect but to reimagine what education can be, learning environments that empower every student, strengthen our communities, and cultivate the next generation of leaders and changemakers.