SUMMARY
presented their findings, civil rights advocates and congressional staffers opened the discussion with attendees to explore what lessons can be learned by legislators from the research presented The following subjects were explored:
Event Agenda
Welcome and Introductions:
Gary Orfield, The Civil Rights Project, University of California, Los Angeles
Research Summaries and Recommendations:
- Diversity: “Federal Education Policy Should Promote Diversity” by Erica Frankenberg, Research and Policy Director, and Gary Orfield, Co-Director, at The Civil Rights Project at UCLA.
- Graduation Rate Crisis: “How the ESEA Could Help End the Graduation Rate Crisis” by Robert Balfánz, Co-Director, Everyone Graduates Center, Johns Hopkins University.
- Discipline: “The ESEA Can Ensure That Discipline Serves an Educational Mission” by Daniel Losen, Senior Education Law and Policy Associate, The Civil Rights Project at UCLA. (presentation slides)
- English Language Learners: “The ESEA Must Do More to Support the Instruction and Assessment of English Learners” by Patricia Gándara, Co-Director, The Civil Rights Project at UCLA.
Responses by Civil Rights Advocates:
- Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Anurima Bhargava, Director of the Education Practice, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- Veronica Rivera, Legislative Staff Attorney for Education, MALDEF
Responses by Legislative Advocates:
- David J. Johns, Senior Education Advisor, Senate HELP Committee, Sen. Tom Harkin
- David Cleary, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Children and Families, Sen. Lamar Alexander