Sixty years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, landmark legislation championed by President John Kennedy before his death. Parts of this law are known as “titles,” and Title VI prohibits programs that get federal funding, including schools, from discriminating based on race, national origin, or color. Title VI has given students a way to fight racial and ethnic discrimination for six decades, but the fight continues for many students.

If you have experienced discrimination in your K-12 school, college, or university, the Lento Law Firm can help. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or leave your details online, and we will promptly contact you.

Title VI Prohibits Racial Discrimination

Title VI prohibits racial and ethnic discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal dollars, including all public schools and nearly all colleges and universities. Students experiencing discrimination can file a complaint with the federal Department of Education (DOE) and have a right to proceed in court. Title VI complaints may include:

• A school fails to take action to stop racial harassment. For example, a group of students bullies and harasses a student with racial slurs, or a student finds a swastika in their locker.
• A school disciplines a student for wearing clothing or messages conveying racial or ethnic identity.
• A school disciplines a minority student more harshly or disciplines students differently because of race.
• A teacher uses a racial or ethnic slur in front of students or directs a racial or ethnic slur at a student.

While many believe this behavior is rare in schools today, it is more common than you might think.

Discrimination Continues in Schools

Nationwide, over a third of high school students report experiencing racial harassment. In 2023, the DOE reported receiving over 19,000 discrimination complaints, more than double the number they processed in 2021. More than half of these complaints concerned discrimination in grades K-12, and many of these complaints centered around a hostile racial environment. Although our schools have made great progress since 1964, they still have far to go.

A student can hold a school liable for racial or ethnic harassment (i.e., a hostile environment) under Title VI by showing:

• Harassment of a student based on race, color, national origin, or ethnicity.
• Harassment limits or denies the student the ability to participate in or benefit from school activities.
• An employee of the school knew about the harassment, or the school should have known.
• The school failed to take prompt and effective steps to stop the harassment.

Any student experiencing racial or ethnic harassment at school should contact an experienced education attorney.

How the Lento Law Firm Can Help

The Lento Law Firm is a nationwide education law firm with a proven track record of helping students experiencing discrimination or other unfair treatment. If you are ready to fight a pattern of unfair and unequal treatment, the Lento Law Firm is ready to fight on your behalf. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or leave your details online, and we will promptly contact you.