The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

In a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, representatives from the Higher Achievement program and other education reform organizations highlighted programs that are critical to meeting the dynamic needs of students in public education.

"The Leadership Conference applauds the tentative labor agreement reached this week between the D.C. Public Schools and the Washington Teachers Union after two years of negotiation and the mediation of Howard Law School Dean Kurt Schmoke.

As the nation's premier civil and human rights coalition, The Leadership Conference believes that quality education is a civil right for every child. This agreement demonstrates the mutual desire of teachers and school administrators to work together to make that right a reality for the District's children. It also recognizes that quality teaching is the most important factor in providing a quality education and provides the District's teachers, who often work under challenging conditions, with the tools and support they need to succeed.

Once this agreement is ratified, it will be up to everyone – administrators, teachers, parents, community leaders and the elected and appointed leaders of the District – to build an environment where teaching and learning are valued, and where children develop the skills and knowledge they will need to enter college and the 21st century workforce.  If well implemented, this agreement and the D.C. Public Schools can serve as examples for the nation on how to work collaboratively to ensure a quality education for all children."

+Washington Post editorial on the agreement

Michael Wotorson, executive director of the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE), recently testified before the House Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee to encourage Congress take proactive steps to narrow the achievement gap for students of color in America.

The Department of Education this week announced plans to step up its enforcement of federal civil rights laws that require states and school districts to provide equal educational opportunity to all American children, regardless of race, gender, or disability. Listen to Leadership Conference President and CEO Wade Henderson in a discussion of the Education Department's new civil rights enforcement policy.

According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, approximately 1.2 million students do not graduate from high school in four years, if at all. Most of these dropouts come from minority and low-income communities, further widening the opportunity gap.

High school dropouts are more likely to experience poverty, poor health, and incarceration during their adult lives than people who graduate from high school.  The dropout crisis comes at a high economic cost for both the individual and society – resulting directly in lost wages and high government expenditures. It has been estimated that the dropouts from the class of 2008 will cost the United States almost $319 billion in lost income over their lifetime.

The Alliance suggests that the role of the federal government (PDF) should focus on developing a common set of standards for American high schools by aligning assessments and creating common definitions of proficiency and graduation rates.  The ultimate goal is to increase the number of graduates and ensure that these graduates are prepared for either college or the workplace.