Law, Inequality, and Education Reform

In the United States, education serves as the foundation for our economy, democracy and society. Law and policy determine the quality of educational opportunities in the United States. Although law and policy have made substantial inroads in reducing discrimination in education, they also tolerate and exacerbate inequalities in educational opportunities that influence the academic, professional and social outcomes of students and communities. After analyzing how law and policy shape educational opportunities, students will read and critique scholarly proposals for reducing educational opportunity gaps. Students will assess the benefits and costs of recognizing a federal right to education for addressing disparities in educational opportunity through readings and an in-class debate.