For Immediate Release

OAKLAND, CA — The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) today debuted the Students’ Civil Rights Act, model state legislation that provides the framework for states to build a strong infrastructure for investigating discrimination in schools and giving students the protections they deserve.

Given the federal government’s abdication of its civil rights enforcement responsibilities, many students and families have been left without options. This legislation, if enacted, would ensure students and families can go to their civil rights agency and courts in their state to address school-based discrimination.

“When a student faces discrimination at school, they and their family need somewhere to turn and someone with the authority to act,” said Sabrina Bernadel, Manager of the Education Civil Rights Alliance at NCYL. “The Students’ Civil Rights Act provides lawmakers the tools they need to fill this gap and create robust, effective, and enforceable civil rights protections for all students.” 

At its core, the model legislation helps states create or strengthen their authority to investigate and resolve instances of discrimination in schools. The model also incorporates federal civil rights protections and other bedrock civil rights principles into state law through companion sections that address:

• Specific protections for students with disabilities, immigrant students and families, and English Learners and their families; 
• Anti-discrimination training for school employees;
• Collection of civil rights data;
• Effective coordination with state Attorneys General offices; and
• Protections against censorship of instructional materials and school curricula.

The model legislation, an initiative of NCYL’s Education Civil Rights Alliance (ECRA), builds on prior efforts to enhance and strengthen state-level civil rights protections for students. In March 2025, ECRA members issued recommendations to state leaders on complaint systems, enforcement agencies, and civil rights data. The model also serves as a companion to NCYL’s State of Student Rights, an online resource that helps students, families, advocates, and government leaders understand the current protections available to students under state law and the gaps that remain. The Students’ Civil Rights Act turns that information into proposed statutory language.

NCYL experts are available to brief state legislators, attorneys general, and education agencies interested in this model legislation. 

NCYL will be providing more information about the Students’ Civil Rights Act during a webinar on Thursday, Oct. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. PT (3 to 4 p.m. ET). Students, families, educators, and advocates are welcome.

Read the Students’ Civil Rights Act: https://youthlaw.org/studentcivilrights/
Register for the webinar: https://action.youthlaw.org/a/studentcivilrights

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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms 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.