Education
Fighting to protect the civil rights of all students in America — regardless of background or zip code
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 erect 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. But in the past two years, the Trump administration has led the charge to roll back protections for students with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault on campuses, students of color, and other vulnerable communities. In response, our coalition is leading a coordinated effort to protect the rights and safety of students and ensure every child 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 Webinars
Webinars presented by The Leadership Conference Education Fund in collaboration with member organizations of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil Rights Principles for Higher Education
In 2018, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, and 46 other civil rights and education groups put forth civil rights principles for higher education.
Read Our Civil Rights Principles ›
Know Your Rights: The Educational Rights of Immigrant Children
The Constitution and the Supreme Court guarantee all children in the United States the right to attend school regardless of their immigration status.
Conozca Sus Derechos: Los Derechos Educativos De Los Niños Inmigrantes
La Constitución y la Corte Suprema les garantizan a todos los niños en los Estados Unidos el derecho a la educación pública sin importar su estatus migratorio.
Latest News
Policy Recommendations Advance Civil Rights in Higher Education
WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference Education Fund today released key recommendations for ways in which policymakers can protect civil rights through higher education policy. The 10 policy briefs, based on The Education Fund’s 2018 civil rights principles, articulate the changes needed to create a higher education system that offers meaningful equal opportunity and success for all students, particularly the historically marginalized.
ADVISORY: Higher Education Policy Briefs Advocate for Civil Rights Protections in Federal Legislation
WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference Education Fund will hold a policy briefing Thursday, July 11 at 2 p.m. ET to discuss our recently released policy recommendations for incorporating the Higher Education Civil Rights Coalition’s 10 civil rights principles into higher education legislation.
Education Department Must Enforce Protections for Students with Disabilities
WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference Education Fund, released the following statement on the Department of Education’s recognition that the Equity in IDEA regulation is in effect. The regulation will calculate significant disproportionality in placement and evaluation of students of color in special education programs:
Students Deserve Better
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has demonstrated she doesn’t care about students’ civil rights. Join the #StudentsDeserveBetter campaign to urge the Department of Education to protect the civil rights of all students in America.
Visit Students Deserve Better ›
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.
Advocating for Educational Equity & High Standards
Since 2010, states across the country have taken an important first step towards greater equity. More than 40 states have adopted new, high, and consistent standards to raise the bar for what each student should know and be able to do by the end of each grade so they can graduate college- and career-ready.
Since every child is being asked to meet higher standards, states and school districts have an obligation to provide every resource necessary to teachers, schools, and parents so that children meet those standards. Parents and local leaders must be at the forefront of advocating for equity and holding school systems accountable to ensuring every child graduates college- and career-ready. These toolkits were created to educate, equip, encourage and empower you to advocate for greater education equity in your local community.