The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) applauds new guidance regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 released today by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
LDF Director of Policy Demetria McCain issued the following statement:
“Today, the Department of Education issued critical new guidance regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of race, color, or national origin, have equal access to educational opportunities. LDF applauds this guidance as a necessary step in addressing the persistent inequities and discrimination faced by Black students and other students of color. Today’s action provides much-needed clarity to educators, administrators, and policymakers about their obligations under Title VI to remedy discrimination — obligations that exist no matter who is in the White House. We are particularly encouraged that the guidance stipulates that, to comply with federal law, schools must go beyond simply adopting nondiscrimination policies and instead must proactively work to root out and eliminate racial harassment and discrimination.
“We urge schools and higher education institutions to fully heed this guidance, and we call on the Department of Education to rigorously monitor compliance and hold institutions accountable when they fail to meet their obligations. Together, we can work to ensure that Title VI fulfills its promise of protecting the civil rights of all students, no matter their race, color, or national origin.”
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
