Strategies to accelerate the closure of opportunity gaps for Black youth

The opportunity gap, frequently labeled the achievement gap, is among the most long-standing issues impacting the field of education. The outcomes of this gap have lasting consequences for the educational, social, emotional, and behavioral development of Black students. In this manuscript, the opportunity gap and outcomes of the opportunity gap are defined by the authors. Additionally, articles within this special issue are contextualized within themes to eliminate the opportunity gap and build pathways for positive outcomes for Black students.