Racial Discrimination
Fair School Funding
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The unlawful dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education is well underway. If not reversed, it will be catastrophic for schoolchildren across Pennsylvania.
No president can unilaterally eliminate the Department of Education, nor erase our students’ legal rights. But gutting the department would certainly mean far fewer federal resources for our most underfunded schools and fewer supports for underserved students.
The administration’s executive orders, mass layoffs, and funding cuts will likely continue to be challenged in court, but action by Congress is needed now. ELC urges parents, educators, and community members to contact their federal representatives in the House and Senate and demand that they protect our students and schools by stopping the dismantling of the department. Make your voice heard now to ensure that our federal government continues to play a vital role in expanding equity in public education through continued federal funding, guidance and oversight regarding federal laws, and enforcement of civil rights protections for schoolchildren across Pennsylvania.
Read more, and see our companion piece on how the dismantling of the Department of Education is affecting key student populations..
Racial Discrimination
Equal Access
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The unlawful dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education is well underway. If not reversed, it will be catastrophic for schoolchildren across Pennsylvania.
No president can unilaterally eliminate the Department of Education, nor erase our students’ legal rights. But gutting the department would certainly mean far fewer federal resources for our most underfunded schools and fewer supports for underserved students.
The administration’s executive orders, mass layoffs, and funding cuts will likely continue to be challenged in court, but action by Congress is needed now. ELC urges parents, educators, and community members to contact their federal representatives in the House and Senate and demand that they protect our students and schools by stopping the dismantling of the department. Make your voice heard now to ensure that our federal government continues to play a vital role in expanding equity in public education through continued federal funding, guidance and oversight regarding federal laws, and enforcement of civil rights protections for schoolchildren across Pennsylvania.
Read more, and see our companion piece on how the dismantling of the Department of Education is affecting key student populations..
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Dismantling and potentially eliminating the U.S. Department of Education will result in significant cuts to federal funding, particularly for our most underfunded schools; a lack of federal oversight and enforcement of federal education laws; and an erosion of federal civil rights protections.
Pennsylvania families rely on the U.S. Department of Education to distribute a total of $1.6 billion in federal funds annually to our schools, plus $6 billion in higher education financial aid. These investments are now at risk.
ELC developed the eight fact sheets in this publication to highlight how specific student groups will be affected. See also our “Action Alert” on the U.S. Department of Education.
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Members of Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous communities have been leading efforts to build affirming school environments and culturally responsive and celebratory curriculum for decades. They have also been working to create community-based educational initiatives to expand learning opportunities. Across the state, many students, parents, educators, advocates, and community members are now focusing on making schools antiracist and free from prejudice. These efforts are critical to ensuring a safe, supportive, respectful, and affirming learning environment for children of color.
You can learn more about these antiracist initiatives here.
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Students deserve affirming and safe school environments that celebrate them for who they are and provide robust opportunities to learn. Schools have a legal obligation to ensure that students are not denied opportunities, treated differently, discriminated against, or harassed because of their race, color, or national origin. Schools must have policies and procedures to prevent and address bullying and harassment based on race and must ensure equal opportunities for students of color.
Under federal and state laws as well as the U.S. Constitution and Pennsylvania’s Constitution, racial discrimination is illegal, and there is no place for it in our schools. Learn more here about your rights and what you can do if your child is facing racial discrimination in school.
Racial Discrimination
School to Prison Pipeline
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A new report recommending strategies for policy makers to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and address disparities in school discipline was issued by the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in April 2021. The report, which draws on testimony from 20 local and national experts at two public briefing sessions, is called “Disparate and Punitive Impact of Exclusionary Practices on Students of Color, Students with Disabilities and LGBTQ Students in Pennsylvania Public Schools.”
The report presents data illustrating the discriminatory nature of exclusionary discipline and its disruptive and harmful impact. Recommendations include banning exclusionary discipline for nonviolent offenses, implementing positive behavioral supports and trauma-informed restorative practices, improving data collection, and increasing funding to devote to creating positive school climates. ELC executive director Deborah Gordon Klehr served as a member of the advisory committee.