CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SOCIETY

The Civil Rights Law Society (CRLS) is an organization dedicated to facilitating discourse on civil rights issues both within the United States and internationally. The Society provides a forum for scholars, practitioners, and law students to share their ideas and experiences through guest lectures, panel discussions, conferences, and community service/pro bono events. The Society also aims to help prepare Columbia Law School graduates to enter both the public and private sector armed with a stronger consciousness of civil rights issues.

PLEASE JOIN US...

Do Children have a Constitutional Right to a Sound, Basic Education?

Wednesday, December 1, 6:00-8:00pm
Jerome Greene Hall, Room 106
Dinner will be served.

This panel will discuss the history of education adequacy cases from a legal and political perspective. The discussion will be framed around the landmark decision reached by the New York State Court of Appeals in Campaign for Fiscal Equality, Inc. v. State and subsequent litigation, including New York Civil Liberties Union v. State. As part of a series of school funding equity cases across the country, the lessons learned in these cases are being closely watched by advocates in other states seeking to address urban-suburban-rural educational disparities through either reform, relief, or a combination of the two. This issue is particularly timely since the parties to CFE are back in court, and a new chapter in the ongoing saga of this nationally watched case is currently being written.

Speakers:

Michael Rebell

Executive Director, Campaign for Fiscal Equality, Inc.
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of Law
Co-Counsel, Campaign for Fiscal Equality, Inc. v. State

Art Eisenberg

Legal Director, New York Civil Liberties Union
Lead Counsel, New York Civil Liberties Union v. State

Richard Rothstein

Sachs Lecturer at Columbia University Teachers College