U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: Education available to public school students "profoundly unequal"

On January 11,  the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released  Public Education Funding Inequity in an Era of Increasing  Concentration of Poverty  and Resegregation. 

Based on extensive research and expert testimony, including that  collected at the Commission’s public briefing , the  report  addresses pervasive disparities  in funding for public education, and offers actionable recommendations with a goal of  improving educational opportunity and student achievement across all segments of our  nat ion’s student population. 

Key findings and recommendations from  a majority of the Commission include :     

• Vast funding inequities are a significant factor in rendering  education available to  public school students profoundly unequal. 
• This reality of American schooling is fundamentally inconsistent with the ideal of  public education as a means to equalize life opportunity, regardless of resident,  race, economic status, or life circumstance. 
• The majority of states do not allocate more funding to high -poverty school  districts.
 • Low -income students and students of color are often relegated to low -quality  school facilities. • 

Inequalities in educational opportunities are exacerbated by racial segregation  and concentrated poverty. 

• Congress should declare  education a federal right. 
• Congress should incentivize states to adopt equitable school finance systems,  ensure adequate funding for students with disabilities ,  and invest in facilities for  equitable environment s for students to achieve.   
 • Congress should increase federal funding to supplement state funding; promote  collection, monitoring, and evaluation of school spending data; and develop  mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of federal spending. 

Chair Catherine E. Lhamon said, “Perv asive funding inequities continue to plague the  nation’s public schools, undermining core American principles of fairness and crippling  national progress.  The Commission majority urges Congress to act now to secure a  federal education right and incent swi ft and strong state a ction to protect learning  opportunity for all students.”