In the U.S., State constitutions generally guarantee the right to a free public education, but it is rare that such education looks the same across a state’s various communities and jurisdictions. Some schools end up far better resourced than others, denying citizens not just an equal education, but the equal future prospects an education is intended to ensure.
In New York City, The Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University; The Knowledge House (a tech education nonprofit in the Bronx); and THE POINT Community Development Corporation (a community development nonprofit, also in the Bronx) have banded together to develop the Know Your Educational Rights App. This app, whose technical development is being overseen by The Knowledge House, is being designed to provide parents and public school students with information about their educational rights under state law, in order to better advocate for themselves or their children.
The three organizations are currently working to raise $10,000 to help fund the development of the app. Press play above to learn more about the app project and state of educational rights, especially for lower income New York City residents.
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly cited the name of one of the organizations, calling it the ‘Campaign for Educational Equity.’ The correct name is The Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University.
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