Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Joins 44 Civil Rights and Education Advocacy Organizations in Calling on State Education Leaders to Defend Equal Educational Opportunity Amid Federal Compliance Push
April 14, 2025 — The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has joined with 44 other civil rights and education advocacy organizations in urging State and Local Education Agencies to uphold and expand their commitments to equity, inclusion, and access in K–12 education—despite recent chilling guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education.
In a letter sent April 14, 2025, to state education leaders across the country, the coalition responded to the Department of Education’s recent directive requiring agencies to certify compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The Department’s action, issued on April 3, 2025, misinterprets federal civil rights law and risks undermining lawful, evidence-based practices that foster equal opportunity and support diverse learning environments.
“At this critical juncture, state and local education officials must stand firm in their commitment to equitable education,” said Michael Pillera, Director, Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Efforts that lawfully address racial disparities and promote inclusive school communities are not only legally sound—they are essential to fulfilling the promise of equal protection and equal opportunity.”
The joint letter clarifies that the new certification form does not create new legal obligations and relies on misleading interpretations of Title VI. Specifically, the Department’s “Dear Colleague” letter falsely suggests that schools’ race-neutral efforts to address barriers to equity may be unlawful. In truth, federal courts have rejected such claims, and the law continues to permit—and in many cases encourage—measures that reduce disparities and expand access for historically marginalized students.