For Students and Families
If you or a loved one is facing discrimination at school, Public Justice’s Students’ Civil Rights Project may be able to help. We primarily take on cases concerning harassment, discriminatory discipline, and other forms of discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or parenting status, race, ethnicity, or national origin. You can send us information about your case through this form.
Students and families can also be powerful advocates for themselves and for change in their schools. You may find the resources below useful in advocating for change.
- Our parent and student guide on how to file Title VI complaints with the Department of Education
- Our Know Your Title VI Rights Fact Sheet on Protecting Students from Discrimination Based on Race, Color, Ethnicity or National Origin (September 2023)
- Our Bullying and the Law guide, produced in collaboration with The BULLY Project, offers information about bullying for parents
- Our legal primer, Litigating Bullying Cases, provides information for lawyers and families about potential legal claims for schools related to harassment
- Our Verdicts and Settlements Lists provide information about the results of successful litigation against primary and secondary schools and against colleges and universities regarding harassment and bullying.
- Read Adele Kimmel and Nancy Willard’s Trial magazine article Cyberbullying, From Schoolhouse to Courthouse (January 2018) discusses schools’ responsibility to address cyberbullying
- Know Your IX offers educational materials and advocacy guides for students advocating against sexual violence in school
- The Pregnant Scholar website includes materials about pregnant and parenting students’ rights
- The American Civil Liberties Union has put together legal explainers for students on a range of topics, including sex-specific dress codes, the rights of LGBTQ+ students, the rights of pregnant students, and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin