School Desegregation | Latino Action Network Foundation

Educational Equity

Despite New Jersey's ethnic and racial diversity, it ranks as the 6th most segregated state in the nation for black students and 7th for Latino students.

SCHOOL INTEGRATION LAWSUIT

After stumbling upon the NJ school statistics and trends provided by Rutger's The Inclusion Project, on May 17, 2018 (the 64th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education), a coalition of civil rights groups and students filed a lawsuit to force the State of New Jersey to take steps to end segregation.

The lawsuit is known as Latino Action Network, et al. v. State of New Jersey. Latino Action Network calls on the court to take a series of initial steps to address segregation and claims that segregation by race and poverty in the state’s public schools and charter schools violates New Jersey’s constitution.

Read More on Case Page

With the support of the Fund for NJ, the Latino Action Network Foundation along with the Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) partner together on program planning, outreach, and organizing of program activities to collectively address the integration needs of the African American and Latino communities through co-joint grassroots organizing efforts. The partnership will expand the network of outreach and ensure that outreach efforts are tailored to each community’s cultural and language needs.

Want to know more? Read the latest on the school integration lawsuit!

LATINX EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLS

The Latino Action Network's report on the Latinx experience in New Jersey schools highlights significant disparities in educational access and outcomes for Latinx students. Despite being one of the state's fastest-growing demographic groups, Latinx students face challenges such as higher dropout rates and underrepresentation in advanced courses.

The report underscores the need for systemic change in policy and educational practices to better support this community. It provides a comprehensive overview of current trends and calls for focused action to ensure equitable opportunities for Latinx students.