Education Department, Congress Must Protect the Civil Rights of Students Through Annual Data Collection ​​​​​​​

Education News, Education Resources 08.13,21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charmaine Riley, [email protected], 202.548.7166

WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Department of Education announced the Civil Rights Data Collection survey will occur in the 2021-2022 school year: 

“As students, families, and schools continue to grapple with the long-lasting challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the civil rights community is grateful that the Department of Education heard our calls and will conduct the Civil Rights Data Collection survey in the upcoming school year. This data is integral to protecting students and ensuring that their civil rights are upheld.

“Data is critical to ensuring equal educational opportunity — and must drive real changes to policy and practice at the school, district, and federal levels. It is time to make this collection annual and for Congress to provide the resources needed to ensure this information is available to students, families, educators, and policymakers.”

In December 2020, The Leadership Conference called on the Biden administration and Congress to double the size of the Office for Civil Rights. In March 2021, The Leadership Conference and 29 organizations called on the Department of Education to administer the Civil Rights Data Collection survey in the 2021 school year.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

 

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