News
All ELC news stories are archived here in reverse chronological order. They are also categorized by state in the menu on the left, with New Jersey further broken out into separate subject areas.
ELC VIRTUAL EDUCATION JUSTICE LECTURE EXPLORES ADVOCACY RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC
Published on: June 2, 2020
ELC hosted the 11th annual Education Justice Lecture as a virtual panel discussion on the Impact of COVID-19 on schools with NY State Sen. Robert Jackson, former AQE Executive Director Billy Easton, and NJ Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly.
SCHOOL FINANCE LITIGATION UPDATE: DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, AND NEW MEXICO
Published on: May 26, 2020
Given the crucial role of school finance lawsuits after COVID-19, ELC continues to inform advocates, teachers, parents, policymakers and other public school supporters of developments in existing and new litigation.
LAWSUIT CHALLENGES NORTH CAROLINA LAW ALLOWING BREAKAWAY, SEGREGATED CHARTER SCHOOLS
Published on: May 18, 2020
North Carolina parents and civil rights groups are suing the State, challenging a 2018 law authorizing predominantly white, wealthy towns to form separate charter school districts.
NEW JERSEY MUST REJECT EDUCATION SECRETARY DEVOS’ ADVICE TO GIVE EMERGENCY COVID-19 FUNDS EVEN TO WEALTHY PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Published on: May 11, 2020
ELC is urging NJ Governor Phil Murphy to firmly reject a non-binding directive from U.S. Secretary of Education DeVos to set aside CARES Act funds for all private school students, even the most wealthy.
NEW JERSEY DISTRICTS CAN’T DEMAND WAIVERS IN RETURN FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Published on: May 6, 2020
The NJDOE has issued a firm prohibition to school districts against conditioning special education services on parents waiving their students’ rights guaranteed under federal law.
ILLINOIS ADVOCATES CALL ON GOVERNOR TO DIRECT FEDERAL EMERGENCY FUNDS TO AT-RISK, MARGINALIZED STUDENTS
Published on: May 5, 2020
An Illinois coalition belonging to the PEER network is urging Governor Pritzker to ensures school districts use CARES Act K-12 funds for the state’s most marginalized children and families.
ELC CALLS ON NJ TO USE CARES ACT FUNDS TO END DIGITAL DIVIDE AND ADDRESS EDUCATION INEQUITIES
Published on: May 4, 2020
ELC is urging Governor Murphy to promptly issue guidance to local school districts to prepare plans for using the CARES Act funds earmarked for NJ K-12 education.
CONSTITUTIONALLY OBLIGATED: STATES CANNOT PASS THE BUCK TO DISTRICTS AFTER CLOSING SCHOOLS
Published on: April 29, 2020
All states are constitutionally obligated to maintain and support a public education system, even after closing schools to stop the pandemic, and that obligation cannot be delegated to local school districts.