Every child in the United States has a right to an equitable (fair and just) public education. Improving educational excellence and outcomes for all students benefits our communities, nation and shared future. Parents, caregivers, families, educators and all community members have a crucial role in advocating for children’s right to excellence in public education and inclusive learning spaces that support the well-being of all children.
State and local control over education means education is a community resource and a lever for change. School boards are often elected from the community, and meetings are open to the public. This provides a path to address policy and practice at the source by attending meetings, speaking about important issues, either in favor or against, and even running for a seat on the school board. In many districts, school boards post meeting agendas ahead of time, and some post recordings or links to attend virtually. By increasing your knowledge and engagement in your community’s educational sphere, you can have a major impact on the lives of youth.
Education is foundational to democracy, and a thriving, multiracial and inclusive democracy is essential in building a more just future for all our children.
Join us in advocating for public education that fosters excellence and equity.
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”
— Marian Wright Edelman
Understanding the responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education can help us recognize the damaging impact of actions to dismantle the department and help us formulate strategies to ensure equitable public education in communities.
Learn more: “The Role and Responsibilities of the Department of Education”
REFLECTION AND ACTION
The following are some recommendations that can help you become an advocate for education in your communities.
1. Learn more about issues that affect you and be intentional about becoming an ally.
In the movement for freedom, we are connected to the struggles of others. We should not only advocate for justice for issues that affect us personally, but for those that affect others in our communities and our nation.
- Learn more about issues in your community, such as: racial disparities and race in history; school discipline and school pushout (which disproportionately affects Black and Brown students and students with disabilities); education access and supports for children with disabilities; inclusivity and representation for all students (including LGBTQ+ students and families); poverty and services to support families, such as addressing food insecurity and understanding trauma; and more.
2. Learn more about the laws that protect children’s rights in education and outline schools’ responsibilities, including:
- Ensuring access and supporting the needs of students with disabilities such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- Ensure equal access to education and civil rights protections for all students, such as protecting against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or ancestry (Title VI); sex or gender (Title IX); disability (Section 504 and Title II); age (Age Discrimination Act of 1975).
- Closing the gap in education outcomes for students from families with low-incomes and those experiencing poverty such as Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Title I and the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015).
Research some basic information on your rights, such as these articles and resources:
- Protecting Immigrant Students Rights to a Public Education (SPLC resource)
- Helping Your Child With a Disability Get a Good Education (SPLC resource)
- “15 Rights Parents Have in Public School” from GreatSchools and “Your Rights as the Parent of a Public School Student” from Colorín Colorado.
3. Become involved in school boards and other leadership roles in your community.
School board’s responsibilities vary but usually include setting the district’s vision and goals, setting priorities and adopting policies and curriculum, establishing performance standards for students and hiring the district superintendent.
- Learn more about your district’s school board members and be sure to vote in board elections.
- Show up to speak up at school board meetings. Encourage and support educators, families and other community members who are advocating for inclusive education at board meetings.
- Run for school board office.
4. Participate in or help organize community groups to advocate for education and support young people.
- Identify and engage allies in the school and community. Work with parents, families, caregivers, young people, educators and other community members to build coalitions.
- Learn more and practice skills to dialogue across difference for intentional opportunities “to enter into shared inquiry with others who hold different identities, backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to develop understanding of one another, thereby opening ourselves to listening with the mutual goal of learning.”
- Participate in parent organizations such as your school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA). This will provide an opportunity to work with other families and to build a coalition of allies.
- Organize with allies to develop coalitions, such as family-school-community partnerships, to advocate for education in your community and to hold education leaders accountable to ensuring equitable education.
5. Build strong relationships with educators.
- Discuss with teachers and administrators the best ways to communicate. Let educators know that you support inclusive learning and practices.
- Advocate for young people and educators with school administrators and district staff and in your community. State your public support for inclusive learning. By sharing your stance, you are expressing solidarity with young people and educators.
- Support young people by encouraging school administrators and educators to honor students’ identities. Encourage symbols of equity and allyship in classrooms and throughout the school to create physical reminders that school should be a safe and affirming space for all students.
6. Support your local libraries and everyone’s right to read and learn.
Work with librarians and other community members to discuss the importance of diverse books and to counter book bans.
- Learn more about what you can do from the American Library Association and We Need Diverse Books.
7. Contact your state legislators.
Whether asking to meet with legislators one on one or contacting them via email, letter, phone or social media, parents and caregivers should express the importance of inclusive education practices in helping children feel safe and accepted.
- The Intercultural Development Research Association’s (IDRA) guide “How To Meet With Your Elected Official” is a helpful starting point for preparing to talk to a legislator.
- IDRA also has helpful tips on how to navigate the policymaking process such as the guide 6 Advocacy Lessons Learned from Fighting Against Classroom Censorship Policies.
8. Vote in all elections, national and local, if you meet your state’s qualifications.
Research candidates and plan your voting.
- See “Our Votes Matter: Action Steps in Planning to Vote” for more information.
- Media literacy – being able to access, analyze and evaluate information for accuracy and reliability across a variety of mediums – is crucial for us to make informed decisions. Learn more: “Media Literacy Is Vital During the Election Process.”
- Strategies to suppress voting have increased over the past two decades. Learn more to counter voter suppression in your community and state: “Understanding Voter Suppression in Today’s Election Process.”
Whether or not you are able to vote, learn more and educate others about voting rights and understanding the systems of government, politics and the media.
Learn more:
Civics for Democracy series
To engage in civic action for the com
mon good and to strengthen democracy, we must understand the systems of government, politics and the media. The resources in this Learning for Justice series can help to develop the civic knowledge, skills and dispositions essential for responsible democratic action.
Resisting Hate in Education series
Together, we can engage as a broader community across our differences, build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate. This resource series offers strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias in education.
Learning from the Civil Rights Movement series
The Civil Rights Movement is a story of people who believed they could bring about change. This series can help us learn from our history and examine today’s justice issues to answer the questions: “How can I make a difference?” “How can we make a difference together?”