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 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 Groups Reject Bigoted Policies, Call for Full Inclusion of Transgender Students
WASHINGTON – As the nation celebrates the start of LGBTQ Pride Month, 60 national civil and human rights organizations today declared their support for transgender students and decried discriminatory state proposals that would harm both cisgender and transgender girls and women. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and partners penned an open letter calling for the full inclusion of transgender students in educational opportunities, including extracurricular activities such as athletics.
Catherine Lhamon Will Protect and Advance Students’ Civil Rights
WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after President Biden announced his intent to nominate Catherine Lhamon for assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education:
Biden Administration Must Cancel Student Loan Debt to Advance Racial Equity
WASHINGTON – To advance equity and civil rights, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with 35 civil rights and education organizations, today released Civil Rights Principles for Student Loan Debt Cancellation. The principles outline how to ensure that broad loan cancellation provides for equity and supports all student loan holders, especially women and Black and Latino individuals, who have been disproportionately impacted by the crushing debt of student loans.
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.