SEF comments in support of federal Civil Rights Data Collection

Dec. 16, 2024 – Contact: Alan Richard, arichard@southerneducation.org, (202) 641-1300

ATLANTA – The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) submitted public comments today to the U.S. Department of Education, commending the agency’s Civil Rights Data Collection efforts and making recommendations to strengthen the dataset.

The Department of Education has collected data on students’ access to educational opportunities for more than 50 years. The data represents the most comprehensive, uniform representation of how schools are doing in respecting and upholding students’ civil rights.

“Thanks to the Office of Civil Rights’ data collection, SEF and other education advocates are able to highlight – in detail – key areas in which gaps remain in student’s equal access to education. This kind of in-depth understanding of where the system is and is not serving students well – particularly Black and low-income students – is critical to effecting meaningful change,” SEF President and CEO Raymond Pierce said. “Equipped with this information, we can go to policymakers and education leaders with specific, actionable recommendations to create high-quality, supportive classroom environments for students and opportunities to thrive.”

The current dataset reflects a variety of facets of students’ experience in schools, with indicators on reports of bullying and harassment, restraint of students with disabilities, suspensions from school, student-to-teacher ratios, and availability of other supportive resources.

SEF also outlined several ways the Department of Education can improve the dataset. These suggestions include collecting data disaggregated by race and socioeconomic status on:

• The use of alternatives to exclusionary discipline (such as expulsion and suspension).
• college enrollment and postsecondary pathways.
• notification of civil rights protections forfeited when a student uses a voucher to attend a private school.
• availability of foreign languages, arts, and enrichment courses.

SEF also proposes that the federal agency improve or add data on teachers, including educators’ demographics and experience levels.

SEF was founded on the principle of advancing educational opportunities for students of color and students in low-income families. The Civil Rights Data Collection is one of the strongest tools available to continue in that work.

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The Southern Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by partners and donors committed to advancing equitable education policies and practices that elevate learning for students from low-income families and students of color. We develop and disseminate research-based solutions for policymakers and grow the capacity of education leaders and influencers to create systemic change.