Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Education issued a 37-page guidance Wednesday, reminding school districts that federal law requires them to provide all students, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, the same educational opportunities.
- The department reminded states that, intentional or not, they violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when educational opportunities, including excellent teachers and rigorous coursework, are not accessible to all.
- According to Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, her office has received 250 complaints about school racial inequities since 2009.
Dive Insight:
The U.S. Department of Education compiled data that shows students of color are more likely to attend schools with "lower-quality" facilities, they are less likely to have challenging coursework, and they are more likely to have ineffective and inexperienced teachers.
The guidance, which is something like a friendly reminder, is greatly appreciated by many. Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, told the Washington Post, “We have two separate and unequal systems. The guidance is not a panacea for deep rooted disparity. ... It is a commitment from the federal government. And that is a welcome and noteworthy step forward.”
Issues broached in the guidance are similar to many of the problems discussed in May during the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. While Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not say resources need to be exactly the same, it does say opportunities must be accessible for all in order for "equal education" to be truly attained.
Education historian Jeff Duncan-Andrade's seminal text, "Gangstas, Wankstas, and Ridas: defining, developing, and supporting effective teachers in urban schools," argues that "equal education" may not be the key, but rather "equitable education." For some of his tips on creating equitable classroom settings, check out our feature on 5 practices of highly-effective urban educators.