More of Our Advocacy Work
Ensuring Equal Access to Remote Learning Technology for Homeless Families in Missouri
On May 5 and May 11, 2020, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri sent letters to the Normandy Schools Collaborative in Missouri urging the school district to cease charging families a deposit for laptops during the pandemic, citing Missouri law and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In response, the school district clarified that such fees would no longer be charged.
Read our response to the district.
Law Enforcement in Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools:
On June 29, 2020, the national Lawyers’ Committee urged the Montgomery County Board of Education to remove the regular presence of law enforcement from the county’s public schools and reinvest those funds into student and family support systems. Research has shown the presence of law enforcement results in increased harm for students, particularly Black students.
Rights of LGBTQ+ Students and Staff:
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and 240 other civil rights and education organizations have called for an end to discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, educators, faculty and staff. In an open letter, the groups urged all students, educators and families to advance inclusive and welcoming environments in all schools that celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Treatment of Black Students With Disabilities in Delaware
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law conducted a preliminary review of state and school-level discipline data in response to concerns about the potential discriminatory treatment of Black students and Black students with disabilities in Delaware. After initial observations, letters were sent to the Delaware Department of Education outlining several troubling areas that were found.