A core purpose of the
education system in the United States is to promote the equal opportunity for
children to become responsible, productive, and successful members of society.
In many ways it is not only falling short but losing ground. Increasing
inequity in academic and discipline outcomes are arguably associated with
interpretations of what is and is not a violation of anti-discrimination
statutes and regulations. The discussion group is an opportunity for expert
legal scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds to have a constructive
conversation about the role of the law as a mechanism for or barrier to equity
in education. Specific topics for discussion include school segregation, school
discipline, the impact of proposals to increase school safety and security in
the wake of mass-shootings, the intersection of schools and the criminal
justice system more broadly, and other similar subjects implicating racial and
ethnic equity in educational opportunity.