Addressing Inequities in Education with the WLC

September 2017 | Washington Lawyers' Committee eNewsletter

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Dear Friend of the Washington Lawyers' Committee,

More than 60 years ago, the Court in Brown v. Board of Education wrote: “Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.” The project of creating equity that was at the core of the Brown decision remains incomplete. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is proud that we work to ensure that the segregation and inequity that continues to infect the District’s education system be addressed. Please continue reading below about what we are accomplishing with your support.

Jonathan Smith
Executive Director, Washington Lawyers' Committee

If you or someone you know has experienced any act of hate or bias because of their race, gender, national origin, religion, or disability, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee is ready to help. Please contact us at ReportHate@washlaw.org.

Addressing Inequality in DC Schools

There remains a crisis in inequality in education in the District and across the nation. Far too often, the quality of education students receive depends on the color of their skin, the income of their family, the language they speak, the neighborhood in which they live, and whether they have a disability. At our Quarterly Education Justice lunch, we announced upcoming events and reported on how we are working with families, firms, and fellow organizations to help DC schools, parents, and students thrive.

Staff Spotlight: Jhonna Turner

Jhonna Turner the Committee’s Parent Engagement Program Coordinator, spends her days working with parents to support their efforts to fight for justice and education equity for all District students. In this month’s Spotlight, Jhonna shared a pivotal conversation that changed the course of her career, stories of parents she works with now, and her love of DC and relationship-building.

Parent Empowerment in Action

In order to support each student’s civil right to a high-quality education throughout the city, we must support parents and students to express their power. Parent engagement embedded in the school setting can change the outcome and direction of many students who are typically marginalized. At Seaton Elementary this year, parents came together in celebration of their school’s diverse student body.

DC Council Can Address School Funding Inequities

The quality of an education that District of Columbia students receive still depends far too much on the neighborhood in which they live, the income of their family, the color of their skin, and whether they have a disability. Measures to address this inequity is driven, in part, by the ability of the District to allocate funding for neighborhood public schools. Several charter schools brought litigation to limit the District’s ability to invest in the lowest performing schools and sought a ruling that would enrich private educational entities over the public system. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee worked with a coalition of groups to participate in this litigation and to protect the District’s ability to create high quality schools for every student. In September, the DC District Court rejected the charter Plaintiffs’ challenge and found that the DC Council had the authority to make necessary and appropriate funding decisions. More...

More September News

The women we represent who are incarcerated at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women filed a contempt motion because the facility continues to fail to provide constitutionally adequate medical care in violation of class action Settlement Agreement decided upon last year. They’ve suffered extreme and unnecessary pain, sepsis, amputation, and other severe harms from neglect and denial of critical medical care.
The Committee demanded that the Public Charter School Board reconsider and rehear its June 19, 2017 approval of DC Prep’s petition to expand enrollment because the hearing violated the DC Open Meetings Act, the School Reform Act, and the PCSB’s own practices.
The Committee, with other civil rights organizations, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court challenging Trump's discriminatory Travel Ban
Jonathan Smith submitted written testimony in support of the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2017
Do you work with interpreters? Join Ayuda’s Language Access Program’s “Interpretation Roundtable” on November 7. Details and RSVP here.

You're Invited! 2017 John Burke Pro Bono Breakfast
November 3rd at the National Press Club
Tickets are complimentary, click here for more information.

Join Us: Internship and Employment Opportunities
Chief Operating Officer
Civil Rights Legal Internship - 2017/2018 School Year
Civil Rights Legal Internship – Summer 2018

Fight Injustice & Inequality with WLC: Volunteer and Pro Bono Opportunities

Workers' Rights Clinic October Schedule

Click here to get involved with clinic and additional volunteer opportunities with the Committee.

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 6–9 p.m., at Bread for the City, 1525 Seventh Street NW
Fridays, October 6 and 20, from 12–4 p.m. at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program office at 2811 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m., at Bread for the City, 1640 Good Hope Road SE

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