Civil Rights
Read more about civil rights and schools, enforcement by the Education Department's office for civil rights, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, and more
How a Federal Office Investigates and Resolves Discrimination Complaints Against Schools
What is OCR, how do you file a complaint, and what relief can it offer for students or staff whose civil rights may have been violated?
Federal
Rep. Maxine Waters Rebukes Betsy DeVos in New Bill on Civil Rights Probes
Legislation from one of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics in Congress is taking aim at how Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is handling civil rights issues.
Equity & Diversity
Chicago Schools Creates Special Team to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Against Students
In the wake of a newspaper investigation that revealed that dozens of Chicago students may have been abused, harassed, or assaulted, the Chicago school district will create the Office of Student Protections and Title IX to better handle cases of sexual abuse, assault and harassment of students and support victims.
Equity & Diversity
Lawsuit Over a Student's Deportation Sparks Furor in Boston Schools
A lawsuit claimed that the school district and outgoing Superintendent Tommy Chang have a "disturbing practice" of handing over student information to immigration authorities. Chang, an immigrant himself, fires back.
Law & Courts
Hawaii Settles Lawsuit on Illegal Age Limit for Special Education
About $8 million will be eligible for compensatory education to students who were affected by an illegal state-imposed age cap on special education enrollment.
Social Studies
Opinion
Do Core Democratic Values Belong in Schools?
It is a point of pride, really, having these core democratic values as an anchor in the Mitten State Social Studies standards. Here's a list of those identified values: Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, justice, the common good, equality, truth, diversity, popular sovereignty and patriotism. Things we all agree on, right?
Every Student Succeeds Act
Video
Minorities, English-Learners, and Special Education—Who’s Keeping Watch Under ESSA?
The Every Student Succeeds Act has been called a civil rights law at base, setting tough standards for states in measuring and boosting the performance of historically disenfranchised groups of students. But civil rights advocates worry about compliance and oversight in an era of new flexibility. Federal policy reporter Andrew Ujifusa discusses these concerns.
This video was filmed following Education Week’s virtual summit on ESSA, where online participants submitted their questions about the upcoming implementation of the new federal law.
Equity & Diversity
Nominee to Lead Civil Rights Work Under Betsy DeVos Confirmed by Senate
Kenneth L. Marcus was tapped to serve as the top civil rights official at the Education Department back in October. In fact, Marcus has basically held the job before.
Law & Courts
Courts Take Expansive View in Transgender-Rights Cases
Two recent federal court rulings add to the growing body of decisions finding legal protections for transgender students in federal antidiscrimination law.
Special Education
Ed. Dept. Sued Over New Approach to Civil Rights Complaints
Three advocacy organizations say that the Education Department's office for civil rights can't simply ignore the complaints of those who have filed serial complaints and must investigate first.
Equity & Diversity
Changes to Civil Rights Probes Under Betsy DeVos Alarm Democrats
More than a dozen Democratic senators allege in a letter that changes to civil rights investigations under Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos jeopardize students who face discrimination at school.
Federal
DeVos Defends Civil Rights Record, Backs Better Pay for 'Great Teachers' at House Hearing
House Democrats and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sparred over civil rights and ESSA, but largely avoided controversial questions about school safety in the aftermath of the Texas high school shooting last week.
Equity & Diversity
Five Things to Watch for When Betsy DeVos Makes Rare Visit to Capitol Hill
The U.S. secretary of education will speak to lawmakers on the House education committee on Tuesday about the department's "policies and priorities."
Social Studies
Video
Civil Rights Activists Bring History to Life for a New Generation
It was a moment that changed America. Fifty-five years ago this month, thousands of African-American children walked out of school and began a peaceful march in Birmingham, Ala., to protest segregation. They were met with attack dogs and water hoses. Janice Kelsey was 16 at the time and was arrested for participating in what became known as the Children’s Crusade. This year, she told her story to a group of visiting 5th and 6th graders from Polaris Charter Academy in Chicago, Ill. The students had traveled more than 600 miles to hear first-hand accounts from civil rights activists like Kelsey who were on the front lines of history. “Nobody can tell a story better than the person who experienced it,” said 5th grader Amari. The real-life lesson is in keeping with the school’s philosophy, which Polaris educator Francesca Peck said stresses “the power of immersion, and bringing history to life for our students.” Peck said the two-day visit to Birmingham was not a “field trip,” but was “field work,” with students acting as historians. For many of the students, the impact was powerful. As Amari put it, “This generation, they will have to decide whether they’re going to make a story like that generation did.”
Equity & Diversity
On 'Brown v. Board of Education' Anniversary, Dems Blast Trump's Civil Rights Record
Congressional Democrats held a forum on various civil rights issues in education on the 64th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case that prohibited laws establishing segregated schools.