Fact Sheet: Ensuring Students Have Equal Access to Educational Resources Without Regard to Race, Color, or National Origin

Sixty years after the Supreme Court declared in Brown v. Board of Education that public education is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms, the U.S. Department of Education continues to partner with educators to ensure equity in education so that all students can succeed in school, careers, and in life. Because every student is entitled to equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, or national origin, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a Dear Colleague Letter that highlights and explains what Federal law requires regarding the provision of educational resources, how OCR investigates resource disparities, and what States, school districts, and schools can do to meet their obligations to all students. Further, this guidance document complements the Administration's equity agenda, including the Department's recently announced educator equity initiatives.