Education Department Civil Rights Data Underscore Need to Push for Equity in Education, Says CAP's Carmel Martin

Washington, D.C. — Educational inequities—from access to early learning opportunities and advanced courses to the use of school discipline—are persistent across U.S. schools, new data from the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education show. Carmel Martin, executive vice president for Policy at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement:

More than 50 years ago, civil rights laws enacted by President Lyndon Johnson, such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, laid the groundwork for the notion that the U.S. education system should serve as a critical tool in the war against poverty and inequality. That law, and other civil rights bills that followed in its footsteps—such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—have helped move our education system in the direction of justice and equality for all. New data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights show that, while we have made significant progress, far more needs to be done to ensure that all students—regardless of their background, ZIP code, ability, or the color of their skin—have access to a high-quality education.

More often than not, it is our most vulnerable children—students of color, low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities—who bear the brunt of such inequality, including a lack of access to early learning opportunities and advanced courses. In K-12 settings, these children are also disproportionately the recipients of school disciplinary actions and suspensions. In early childhood settings, very young African American children see far higher rates of such actions.  Inequality has no place in our schools, and these stark statistics remind us of the need to continue the fight for real and tangible equity in education.

For more information, visit www.Amrivcanprogress.org.

Featured

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

  • Quadient Achieves 25,000 Locker Installations Worldwide

    Global automation platform Quadient recently announced that it has acquired Package Concierge, a U.S.-based parcel management solutions provider, according to a news release. The acquisition pushes Quadient over the 25,000-unit milestone of global installations.

  • East Carolina University Selects Architect for $60M Residence Hall Renovations

    East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., recently announced that it has selected the KWK/Jenkins Peer Architects (JPA) team, collaborating with INTREPID Architecture, to design renovations for two of its residence halls, according to a news release.

  • VLK Architects Receives Caudill Award for Texas Learning Center

    VLK Architects recently received the Caudill Award for its work on the Dr. Jim F. Chadwell Administration Building and Discovery Lab Learning Center for Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD in Fort Worth, Texas, according to a news release. The award is the highest honor from the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) / Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Exhibit of School Architecture yearly competition.