President Barack Obama signs the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans Executive Order in the Oval Office, July 26, 2012. Standing behind the President, from left, are: Patricia Coulter, CEO National Urban League of Philadelphia; Rep. Danny Davis, D- Ill.; Reverend Al Sharpton; Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Benjamin Jealous, President of the NAACP; Ingrid Saunders- Jones, Chair of the National Council of Negro Women; Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa.; Kaya Henderson, Chancellor of DC Public Schools; and Michael Lomax, President of the United Negro College Fund. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On July 26, 2012, President Barack Obama created the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans via Executive Order 13621. Its primary function was to restore the country to its role as a global leader in education, to strengthen the Nation by improving educational outcomes for African Americans of all ages,  and to help ensure that all African Americans receive an education that properly prepares them for college, productive careers, and satisfying lives.

On October 19, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14050 establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans (Initiative). The Initiative’s scope was expanded to advance educational equity and economic opportunity for African American and Black students, families, and communities. It names Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as chair of the Initiative. Also, the executive order establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing on Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans that will provide advice to the President through  Secretary Cardona on matters pertaining to educational equity and economic opportunity for the Black community. In addition, it allows the Initiative to establish a Federal Interagency Working Group to collaborate regarding resources and opportunities available across the federal government to increase educational and economic opportunities for Black students, families, and communities.