Civil Rights and Racial Equity

Since the days of de jure segregation, our education system has been deeply unequal in delivering on the promise of a quality education for all of America’s children. Entrenched and systemic disparities in educational resources—including access to high-quality educators, college-preparatory curriculum, safe and positive school climates, support services, and funding—often place Black, Indigenous, and other children of color at a disadvantage in ways that can hinder their growth and learning. Furthermore, educators of color often face hurdles in accessing quality support, education, and career opportunities, which has led to a shortage of qualified teachers of color in this country. Work on these topics by the Learning Policy Institute and some of the country’s leading civil rights researchers demonstrates how advances have been and can be made to clear a path to high-quality, empowering education for all students, inclusive of historically marginalized youth.