The Educational Advancement and Fair Opportunities Program focuses on improving the lives of children, families and communities by advocating for pro-integration policies, defending civil rights desegregation laws, and pursuing fair and equitable resources for all students in K-12 public schools.
The Center's education work is premised on a steadfast belief that racial and economic isolation pose insurmountable barriers to academic achievement and civic engagement for all students. A majority of African-American and Latino students attend schools composed primarily of a non-white student body. These intensely segregated schools are typically characterized by high poverty rates, lower teacher quality, less rigorous curricula, and inadequate funding. The program's current initiatives focus on dismantling these barriers.
In addition to its active defense of desegregation laws, the Center advocates for several other education civil rights efforts, including securing adequate school funding and resources through North Carolina's landmark Leandro case and increasing access to diversity in higher education. The Center also filed Amici briefs regarding a juvenile's rights when in custody. Read more about the Center's work in these areas.