Focus area

Education

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

Get up to date on our latest work - from litigation and policy wins to new reports, resources, events and more.

Equity Demands That College Admissions Be Able To Consider Racial Identity

Removing race considerations in admissions for post-secondary education will not only serve to harm students of color seeking higher education, but it...

Success and Impact

Lawsuits, Policy Work Highlight NCYL's Efforts To Stop Criminalization Of Students

The National Center for Youth Law, through litigation and policy development, has proudly fought to stop the criminalization of youth and end punitive...

Success and Impact

NCYL Challenges Racist Practices in School Districts in California, Connecticut

NCYL has a deep history of defending the rights of students and challenging racist practices in school districts across the U.S., from California to...

Our Initiatives

Ensure Education Equity, Inclusion And Civil Rights For Students

Education inequities based on race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation are evident in U.S. schools every day. NCYL works to eliminate these inequities, advance inclusion and uphold the education civil rights of every student.

Establish Youth-Centered Approaches To Education

NCYL works to advance school systems that center the needs and experiences of students - from removing barriers to learning, to providing training for teachers and school personnel, to empowering youth to more fully participate in their own educational trajectory.

End The School To Prison Pipeline

Schools nationwide use harsh punishments that push students - especially Black and Brown students - into what is known as the school-to-prison pipeline. NCYL uses many strategies to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and create positive school environments that meet students’ academic, social and

Building Compassionate Education Systems for System-Involved Students

Equitably supporting students in foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system or experiencing homelessness, requires dynamic multi-agency collaboration between local education, child welfare, judicial and community-based partners with a shared vision for effectively serving these

Related Events

Forum

Teaching Truth About Racism: What Students Need, What's Happening, What We Can Do

February 16, 2022 - 1:45pm

Legal Advocacy & Impact Litigation

See All Cases

D.P. v. School Board of Palm Beach County

Filing date

2021-06-22

Police employed by the School District of Palm Beach County illegally use the Florida Mental Health Act, also known as the Baker Act, to subject hundreds of students each year to involuntary psychiatric examinations, without their parents' input, consent and, sometimes, over their objections.

Active

Women’s Student Union v. U.S. Department of Education

Filing date

2021-03-08

This lawsuit challenged Trump-era regulations that represent a radical departure from the way previous administrations applied Title IX to school sexual harassment, including sexual assault.

Inactive

COPAA v. DeVos, 2020

Filing date

2020-08-10

This lawsuit seeks to stop the U.S. Department of Education's attempts to siphon emergency federal COVID-19 funding away from K - 12 public schools and the students they serve.

Active

Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

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

PROMYSE Act - Promoting Youth Success and Empowerment Act (2021)

SB 493 Bradford

SB 493 improves the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act by ensuring adequate oversight, equitable decision-making, and effective investments prioritizing our communities’ most critical needs. SB 493 was not successful in 2021.

Inactive

Mental Health Education (2021)

SB 224 (Portantino)

SB 224 ensures that middle and high school health courses include instruction on mental health and wellness, and requires the state to develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools by January 1, 2024.

Enacted

Press Coverage

NCYL Leader Jesse Hahnel Steps Down

October 19, 2022

The Imprint

Nearly $1 billion headed to schools to address student mental health, support systems

September 30, 2022

The National Desk

One year after a California school officer killed a teenager, families fight to remove armed campus guards

September 27, 2022

The Guardian

New Year, New Fear: Students Return to Schools with Beefed-Up Security Post-Uvalde

September 12, 2022

The 74

Report finds schools in L.A. County's youth justice system lacking

March 14, 2022

EdSource

Some Kids Have Returned to In-Person Learning Only to Be Kicked Right Back Out

January 20, 2022

The Nation

Related Resources

The Student-Affirming Education Needed for Our Children and Our Nation's Future

Released by the award winning educators of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year’s Voices for Honest Education as attacks on honest...

Report cover with photo of student using a laptop

Reports

JusticeEd: Year Two Progress Update

Since 2018, NCYL’s JusticeEd Initiative in Santa Clara County has provided innovative, individualized education case management and coaching to...

Students in a hallway with quote text overlayed

Educator Voices: #TeachingTruth

Building Tomorrow's Leaders Comprehensive and honest teaching of U.S. history Kate McCann “In AP Statistics we tackle the tough conversations. We...

SB 203 graphic showing process of youth interrogation

Factsheets

Miranda Rights - Protection Guides for Youth and Professionals

Guides to help youth, law enforcement, and school staff understand the rights youth have during police interrogations to ensure outcomes are just and...

FosterEd Antelope Valley 2 year progress report cover student with computer

Reports

Compassionate Education Systems: Antelope Valley Progress Report

A new report by the National Center for Youth Law highlights progress made in improving the educational experiences for youth in foster care in the...

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.

Foster Care

Health

Immigration

Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Youth Justice

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Help us realize our mission to Center Youth and create a world where every child thrives.