Kayla Patrick is a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, most recently having served as a senior policy advisor in the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education, where she was the primary policy and political lead for all K–12 grant programs.
An education policy expert and advocate for equity in K–12 education, Kayla oversaw strategy and execution for a $40 billion discretionary grant portfolio, ensuring alignment with Biden–Harris administration priorities. Her work spanned key issues such as school-based mental health, full-service community schools, and school discipline and climate.
During her tenure with the Biden–Harris administration, Kayla led several landmark initiatives, including launching the first-ever Fostering Diverse Schools Program to promote equitable and inclusive education. She also directed the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, overseeing $2 billion in investments to enhance student well-being, safety, and support.
Previously, Kayla was a senior data and policy analyst at The Education Trust, where she led national policy and advocacy efforts on college and career readiness, school climate, and discipline reform. She is the lead author of several influential reports, including Inequities in Advanced Coursework; And They Cared: How to Create Better, Safer Learning Environments for Girls of Color; Strategies to Solve Unfinished Learning; and Dress Coded: Black Girls, Bodies, and Bias in D.C. Schools.
Kayla also worked at the National Women’s Law Center, conducting research and data analysis on issues impacting women and girls. She holds a BA in political science from Wellesley College and an MA in education policy from Teachers College, Columbia University.