School Access

All over California and Los Angeles County the vulnerable, poor and disenfranchised fail to receive the education they are entitled to receive by law because of the stigma associated with their race, disability, or legal and court status.  There are several systemic barriers to enrollment and physical access for these three particular populations of students, which is why LRLC will seek them out for advocacy. Students whose native language is not English are entitled to accessing the public education, but many receive substandard education. Some students are misidentified as disabled and placed in special education and labeled disabled. Others are identified as English Language Learner when they are struggling with learning because of a undiagnosed learning disability.

Disability

Under §504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act children who use wheelchairs or have other mobility impairments must be given access to school buildings and school functions. These children are protected by law and that these cases have clear and easy to implement solutions, yet these kinds of students are still barred from schools daily. Other students with disabilities, because of a lack of understanding of their medical condition such as diabetes, spina bifida, asthma, etc., are restricted from accessing their education. Those perceived as disabled are protected by the same laws as for students with disabilities. This includes students, such as African-American boys, who studies show are inappropriately assigned to Special Education as mentally retarded and seriously emotionally disturbed, and non-disabled children in group homes who are obligated to attend on-grounds school for disabled children because of their dependency or delinquency status.

Homeless Youth

Homeless youth living in the community may be barred from attending their local community schools due their homelessness.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Students are being restricted from obtaining an equitable education because of discrimination on the basis of actual or percieved sexual orientation or sexual identity. Students are denied full access to the school system because of discriminatory actions. Some students are being placed in segregated special education schools labeled emotionally disturbed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our Rainbow Learning Rights Project is being developed to address this issue.

Inadequate Facilities

Students are continually facing inadequate and filthy facilities.