CESR incorporates the right to education into every field report it undertakes, from human rights assessments in Afghanistan to the botched "reconstruction" of schools in Iraq under U.S. occupation. As a U.S.-based organization, CESR has also focused considerable efforts on promoting education as a human right in the United States.
In the United States, education is governed locally. In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court decided there is no federal right of education in School District v. Rodriguez (411 U.S. 1, 90, 1973). However, all fifty states include some provision in their constitution on the right to education, and litigation is currently underway in numerous states to improve education quality. See Access Network for the current status of litigation in all fifty states.
CESR has focused its efforts on improving educational standards in the New York City public schools. We add a human rights perspective to educational issues being discussed at the local and national level. The Right to Education Project emphasizes the need to strengthen parent and community participation in the management and oversight of the school system in order to strengthen government accountability for providing a quality education.
As part of this effort, CESR published four
fact sheets [all in pdf format]:
- The Right to Education in New York City
- The Role of an Ombudsperson for Education
- The Right to Participation
- The Right to a Remedy
New U.S. Training Material on the Right to Education
CESR developed five printable flyers for use in training by the Independent Commission on Public Education, New York City.
Testimony before the New York City task force on NYC governance
In 2002-2003, CESR testified on the human rights framework around the right to education before the N.Y. State Assembly Task Force on Community School District Governance Reform. The testimony was part of a series of public hearings to gather input from parents, community members and education advocates on how to change the N.Y.C. governance structure
Report on Civil Society and School Accountability:
A Human Rights Approach to Parent and Community Participation
[for pdf version click here]
The report argues that parents and communities have a human right to participate in the management and oversight of the school system, and that the effective protection of the right to participation is essential for accountability at all levels. It identifies and critiques the obstacles to participation that currently exist in New York City schools and makes recommendations based on human rights standards for how to better ensure effective civil society participation. This is a joint report by CESR and New York University Institute for Education and Social Policy.
U.N. Special Rapporteur Report on the Right to Education on her Mission
to the United States of America 24 September - 10 October 2001 [pdf]
The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education visited the United States of America from 24 September 2001 to 10 October 2001. This report details her evaluation of education in the United States according to international standards. During the visit, CESR and the New York University Institute for Education and Social Policy co-hosted a meeting on NYC's public education crisis between the Special Rapporteur and local education and advocacy groups.