Department of Education Warns School Districts Not to Discriminate When Making Budget Cuts

Catherine Lhamon PortaitCatherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, recently sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to the nation’s school districts. The 37-page letter emphasized that in an era where cutbacks in school budgets and educational programs are commonplace, the districts are obligated under federal law to ensure that their policies and practices do not discriminate against “students of color.”

A Dear Colleague letter is considered to be a “significant guidance document” outlining expected conduct under federal laws and regulations.

Lhamon warned districts that intentional discrimination, as well as policies that result in a disparate negative impact on students of color, would not be tolerated.

She concludes her Dear Colleague letter by stating: “We appreciate your attention to ensuring that students of all races and national origin backgrounds have equal access to effective teaching, adequate facilities, and quality instructional programs and support, and thus have an equal opportunity to attain the academic success upon which our future depends.”

Lhamon is a summa cum laude graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts and earned her law degree at Yale.

Lhamon’s “Dear Colleague” letter may be downloaded by clicking here.

 

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs