Civil Rights Groups Applaud Department of Education’s Renewed Commitment to Civil Rights Enforcement
The Department of Education this week announced plans to step up its enforcement of federal civil rights laws that require states and school districts to provide equal educational opportunity to all American children, regardless of race, gender, or disability. Listen to Leadership Conference President and CEO Wade Henderson in a discussion of the Education Department’s new civil rights enforcement policy.
Every year, 1.2 million students drop out of high school. In many minority and low-income communities where schools are the most under-resourced, fewer than half of the children graduate from high school. In addition, students of color who do graduate are less likely to have had access to a college and career-ready curriculum or Advanced Placement courses.
The department will issue new guidance this year to school districts and colleges clarifying their responsibilities under existing law and will launch in-depth compliance reviews of 32 districts and six colleges to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
“Quality education is a fundamental civil and human right,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference. “When states and districts perpetuate a system of unequal resources and programs, federal leadership that includes vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws is essential.”