Stevens Votes to Pass Historic Legislation Addressing School Segregation

WASHINGTON — This week, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) voted to pass the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act and the Strength in Diversity Act, two historic bills to ensure equity in education by increasing diversity in public schools and addressing achievement gaps.

“Segregated schools lead to segregated opportunity,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “Decades after the landmark Brown v. Board decision, we are still working to achieve educational equality. By giving students and teachers the tools to fight discrimination, these historic bills will help us fulfill that promise, close achievement gaps, and give every public school student an equal opportunity to succeed.”

The Strength in Diversity Act provides funding and expertise to support school districts that are voluntarily developing, implementing, or expanding school diversity initiatives. This legislation will help fund initiatives such as expanding equitable access to transportation, creating new school programs to attract a more diverse student body, or working with local communities to evaluate and address the causes of racial isolation in their schools.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on the Strength in Diversity Act.

The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act restores the power of students and parents to hold schools and other federally funded programs accountable for policies and practices that have a discriminatory impact on students of color. Currently, only the Department of Education – not the victims of discrimination – can challenge schools and other federally funded programs over policies that have a discriminatory effect on students.Under the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act, the victims of discrimination will once again have the right to challenge discriminatory policies, rather than waiting for Secretary DeVos or any other Secretary of Education to act on their behalf.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act.

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