Civil rights groups turn a critical eye on Obama’s education policies

President Obama is scheduled to speak today on education reform, just days after a team of civil rights groups joined forces to release a policy framework criticizing his education policies. Obama’s speech is part of the program for the National Urban League’s Centennial Conference this week.

Seven civil rights groups, including the National Urban League, wrote the 17-page framework, which points out major flaws in the adminisration’s education policies. The “Framework for Providing All Students an Opportunity to Learn” also provides recommendations to repair what they consider flawed policies.

In regards to the administration’s central education initiative, Race to the Top, the framework says it “jeopardizes achievement of the commendable goal for the United States to become a global leader in post-secondary education attainment by 2020.” It goes on to say:

“The Race to the Top Fund and similar strategies for awarding federal education funding will ultimately leave states competing with states, parents competing with parents, and students competing with other students.”

Barbara Arnwine, the executive director of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, discusses her organization’s involvement in contributing to the framework.