Education

Focus Area

NCYL’s Education work aims to create an education ecosystem that centers youth. We work to ensure equitable education opportunities to all children and youth – especially those who experience barriers due to disability, racism, socioeconomic status and more. We also work to ensure safe and positive school environments where students can learn and thrive.

Center Youth
NCYL partners directly with youth to improve their education outcomes, identify opportunities for reform, file litigation and engage in policy advocacy.

Our Success & Impact

August 18, 2026
Press Release

NCYL condemns the Department of Education’s new school discipline guidance as another effort to weaponize and dismantle civil rights protections

July 23, 2026
Press Release

Civil Rights Groups Condemn Department of Education Final Rule Weakening Civil Rights Protections for Students

July 16, 2026
Press Release

NCYL, Lawyers’ Committee, and COPAA demand information and transparency from the U.S. Department of Education

More News

See All Cases

Carter v. U.S. Department of Education

Filing Date2025-03-14

This federal lawsuit, filed on behalf of several parents and students from multiple states, seeks to restore the functions of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and reverse recent actions that effectively eliminate OCR’s ability to process and investigate civil rights complaints.

Active

Black Parallel School Board v. Sacramento City Unified School District

Filing Date2019-09-06

The suit alleges flagrant districtwide disability and race discrimination against students with disabilities, especially Black students.

Active

J.N. v. Oregon Department of Education

Filing Date2019-01-22

The State of Oregon has effectively denied hundreds of children with disabilities the opportunity to attend school for a full day, in violation of federal laws, the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Rehabilitation Act.

Active

See All Laws & Policy

California SB 531: Student Mental Health Education (2025)

Bill will expand mental health education access to all California students

SB 531 will help empower young Californians and destigmatize mental health challenges by requiring all California students in grades 1-12 be provided with an age-appropriate mental health education.

Active

Supporting Students in the Foster System and Students Experiencing Homelessness (2024)

AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva)

Assembly Bill (AB) 2137 that would increase direct support for students, streamline services through better collaboration, and reduce gaps in financial aid application completion.

Active

Expanding Access to Diplomas for Highly Mobile Students (2021 & 2022)

SB 532 (Caballero)

SB 532 builds bridges to a high school diploma and post-secondary educational success for highly mobile students.

Enacted

Related Resources

Local Educational Agency Leadership Guide

This Local Educational Agency Leadership Guide, developed by the National Center for Youth Law and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, is a practical tool to help California school and district leaders strengthen policies, practices, and planning for students experiencing homelessness, in the foster system, or involved in the juvenile justice system.

Impact Report: Antelope Valley Compassionate Education Systems (2018-2025)

Compassionate Education Systems (Formerly known as FosterEd) launched a demonstration site in the Antelope Valley in 2018 to begin supporting students in the 2018-2019 school year. The program concluded in 2025.

Impact Report: Monterey Compassionate Education Systems (2018-2025)

Webinar: Confronting Harmful District-Level Discipline — Updated Webtool for Educators & Advocates

This webinar, hosted by the National Center for Youth Law on April 9, 2026, provides an overview and guidance on using NCYL's updated California School Discipline Data Webtool. The webinar is led by NCYL Senior Director of Education Dan Losen and Ramon Flores of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA.

Issue Brief: Opportunities for Advancing & Funding Access to Mental Health Education Through the CYBHI Fee Schedule

More Resources

Where We Focus

National Center for Youth Law is committed to achieving large-scale, lasting change across multiple government systems and public agencies. Explore all the areas of our work to Center Youth.

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