NCYL launches Public Education Defense Fund to stand up for students amid Trump administration's rollback of civil rights enforcement
New initiative will ensure students' civil rights are respected and protected
WASHINGTON — Millions of students are now vulnerable to unchecked discrimination within their schools as a direct result of the Trump Administration's dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Today, the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) launched a new initiative that aims to stand up for these students where the federal government has let them down.
The Public Education Defense Fund (PEDF) is a bold new enterprise that aims to fill the enforcement void caused by the dismantling of the Department of Education and ensure that civil rights in education remain real — not just an empty promise. NCYL launches this initiative during the 71st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which outlawed racial segregation in public schools. The Brown decision, delivered May 17, 1954, stands as a milestone moment in the history of the U.S. education system — and is an especially poignant reminder of both the progress toward equal opportunity that is attainable in our democracy and what is at stake today.
"Seven decades after Brown v. Board of Education affirmed that every child deserves equal access to education, we're once again called to defend that promise," said Johnathan Smith, Chief of Staff & General Counsel at NCYL. "The Trump administration's assault on civil rights enforcement is a direct betrayal of that promise made 71 years ago, and also a betrayal of students and families across the country. Every student deserves safety, dignity, and opportunity. We refuse to let this administration drag us backward."
PEDF will build on NCYL's already expansive work in protecting students' civil rights and equity in education. Specifically through PEDF, NCYL will:
- Ensure students and families still have protections if federal systems fail them;
- Build momentum for civil rights enforcement even in a hostile federal environment; and
- Create a scalable, nimble, and community-centered legal infrastructure that can intervene directly and support long-term systemic change.
“At a time when civil rights protections for students are under unprecedented attack, preserving those rights is not negotiable — it’s vital," Smith added. "We can't stand by while the federal government abandons its responsibility to uphold the basic rights of children and young people in this country.”
In addition to launching PEDF, NCYL also announced today that it is accepting applications for the first cohort of PEDF Fellows. The fellowship provides short-term placements to support civil rights infrastructure and protect vulnerable students. The application period will remain open through June 30.
Visit here to support PEDF, and/or to learn more about the fellowship program.
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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transform our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
