The decision affirms SEF’s vital role in advancing educational opportunity and civil rights in the South. Court orders SEF’s Equity Assistance grant reinstated
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Miles to Go: The Road to Education Justice The 2025 SEF Issues Forum
Join us November 4–6, 2025, in New Orleans as we explore education justice in the South—past, present, and future. SEF’s signature convening will bring together leaders from across the region to reflect, share, and build. Save the date and submit a proposal or paper.
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The fight for educational justice is far from over. Learn why the rollback of desegregation efforts threatens civil rights progress across the South, as outlined in the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. SEF President Raymond Pierce Joins CNN to Address Civil Rights Rollbacks in Education
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DEI And Civil Rights Are Not The Same
SEF President & CEO Raymond Pierce explains in a recent Forbes article why conflating the two is not only inaccurate—it threatens decades of progress in desegregation and educational equity.
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AJC Op-Ed: This Isn’t About DEI—It’s About Civil Rights
In a powerful new piece for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, SEF President & CEO Raymond C. Pierce exposes how the federal government is dismantling protections under the 1964 Civil Rights Act—and why SEF is taking legal action to defend the promise of equal education for all.
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Administration moves to erode public school funding Opposing federal funding for school vouchers
Our Statement Our Transition Recommendations
'Miles To Go' report Why education disparities for Black students must be addressed
Main Report News Release Executive Summary
Letter urges states to increase support for land-grant HBCUs Addressing the HBCU funding imbalance
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Trump Administration eliminates the Equity Assistance Center-South SEF files a lawsuit to hold the federal government accountable
Read our Statement DOJ Cases with School Districts Under Desegregation Orders
Helping schools focus resources on results The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting
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Access and opportunity Why the federal Civil Rights Data Collection matters
Our Official Comments Details
SEF Supported Case to Enforce E-Rate Program Rules Supreme Court Upholds Protections for Schools and Libraries in Broadband Access Case
News Release Read Our Amicus Brief
A roadmap for improving Head Start Strengthening support for our youngest children
Executive Summary Main Report
Segregation didn’t end in 1954 — it evolved. Today, we're still fighting for fair access to quality education. Brown v. Board of Education: 71 Years Later — The Work Isn’t Finished
Our statement
Trump Administration eliminates the Equity Assistance Center-South SEF appeals the decision, clear violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
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Openings at the Southern Education Foundation Careers at SEF
Join our growing, dedicated staff
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Building on 157 years of leadership
The Southern Education Foundation is a research, policy, advocacy and leadership development organization that works to advance education opportunity for underserved students.
Founded in 1867 as the Peabody Fund, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing more equal education policies and practices, especially for students of color and from low-income families. Today, we also provide direct services for educators, school districts, and states.