Public education could be our greatest weapon in the fight against social and economic inequality, but deeply embedded inequalities have undermined this potential. As a result of massive defunding of public education in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, our public schools are failing to provide an even minimally adequate education to students in low-income and minority communities and students with disabilities. Punitive policies, for example, those addressing discipline and truancy, create barriers for students and even result in them dropping out of school. The Law Center’s education work aims to secure a high-quality public education for students by ensuring adequate and equal funding for public education, eliminating harmful policies and vigorously enforcing the rights of students with disabilities.
