Education Equity
Fighting to protect the civil rights of all students in America — regardless of background or zip code
Read our new resource – We Shall Not Be Moved: A Policy Agenda to Achieve the National Imperative of Racial Equity and Diversity in Higher Education
America should be a place where every child, no matter their unique circumstances, can grow up to be what they dream. And yet our nation continues to create discriminatory barriers that unfairly limit or deny educational opportunity.
At The Leadership Conference, we work to transform public education so that all young people can attend safe, inclusive, and resourced schools that prepare them for successful futures. We also aim to transform education decision-making at the local, state, and federal levels so that diverse and intersectional voices drive reform.
Educational equity is a civil and human right. That’s why our coalition is leading a coordinated effort to protect the rights and safety of students with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault on campuses, students of color, and other vulnerable communities to ensure every student in America can forge the best path to their future.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
Recent Resources
Published by The Leadership Conference Education Fund in collaboration with member organizations of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Latest News
Civil Rights Report Demonstrates Ongoing Need for Robust Enforcement
WASHINGTON — Liz King, senior director for education equity at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published its FY 2024 annual report indicating the highest number of complaints on record:
Resistance to Civil Rights Is Nothing New: Brown v. Board, Title IX, and a Call for Solidarity
Despite the strides we've made towards racial and gender equity, we continue to see mass resistance to achievements like the 2024 Title IX rule with the same oppositional rhetoric and exclusionary motivations of the past.
Education Task Force
The Education Task Force works to ensure children in grades K-12 and students in higher education experience positive school climates, are safe in their academic environment, and have equitable access to high-quality educational services. Together, the members of the task force developed a comprehensive list of priority legislative initiatives that strive to protect and expand students’ civil rights, as well as remove barriers to education for historically marginalized students.
Letter: Double the Funding for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights ›
Take Action
Every student deserves a safe, inclusive, and resourced education that is free from discrimination. Here are a few ways to make your voice heard in the movement for education equity.