Education Equality Day - May 16th, White House Ellipse, Washington D.C.

The Education Equality Project joined with the National Action Network, United Negro College Fund, and the National Council of La Raza to sponsor a national call to action on the 55th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education. Thousands of people from across the country gathered at the White House Ellipse to listen to politicians, educators, civil rights leaders, parents, and activists urge our country - and every one of us - to work to close the racial and ethnic achievement gap now.

While the speakers and organizers represented a broad spectrum of political viewpoints, their rallying cry to address education equality as the current civil rights issue of our time was shared unanimously. From Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty to LAUSD School Board member Marlene Canter to member of the “Little Rock 9” Minnijean Brown-Trickey to US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the message was clear. We are jeopardizing our kids’ futures by sending them to failing schools. We must do everything within our power to change education in our country so every student attends an effective school. Teacher effectiveness, parent involvement, public school choice, and accountability were frequent themes across the day.

 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM EDUCATION EQUALITY DAY

VIDEO

Program

EEP brought together an impressive roster of speakers and leaders from around the country to join us for Education Equality Day. We were joined by mayors, educators, parents, civil rights activists, and many more as we lifted our voices for education reform. To see the list of speakers, click here.

“..when children have the opportunity to go to a great school, they have the oppportunity to do great things!”

— Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

”...insist that education is the civil rights issue of the 21st Century.” 

-New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein

Education Equality Day Pictures



To view the entire picture gallery, click here. To submit your own pictures, click here.

Press Coverage

Education Equality Day was covered extensively in newspapers and blogs and on television and radio. Click here for a link to all coverage of Education Equality Day, here to read our press release, and here to watch video coverage of the entire day.


What did you think?

“I was very glad to be in attendance and to witness yet another moment in American history. I am a single mother of one and have always preached the importance of a good, advanced education to my 16-year-old son, who was in attendance at Education Equality Day”
— Patricia Hagood, Felton DE

Tell us what you think by clicking here.

What’s Next?

Please continue to check the Education Equality Project website for more information on upcoming events, new publications, and developing stories in the quest for education reform. Help us spread the word about EEP; we need everyone’s help to close the achievement gap.