Meeting the Moment: A Guide to Defending Civil Rights in Our Schools

It has never been more urgent to ensure access, inclusion, and meaningful content so that every student has an opportunity to succeed and thrive.

In 2020, a coordinated and well-funded effort was launched to inaccurately redefine terms like critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion to create fear about racial and social justice. Right-wing policymakers have proposed over 600 policies at all levels of government—local, state, and federal—to silence both K-12 and higher education discussions of historical and current racial discrimination in the U.S. These policies are not only aimed at historically marginalized racial groups, but also gender and sexual diversity, often directly targeting LGBTQI+ youth.

This vocal minority is not a grassroots campaign, but an attempt to reverse civil rights gains for Black and Brown communities and other marginalized groups, weaken public education, and ultimately unravel the foundations of democracy. Most parents in the U.S. (82%) believe teachers should be able to talk about race, gender, and sexual orientation at school.

As part of the Federal School Discipline & Climate Coalition (FedSDC), NCYL offers Meeting the Moment: A Guide to Defending Civil Rights in Our Schools to outline the goals, actions, and harmful effects of the anti-civil rights campaign. It highlights successful strategies and key resources for local advocates seeking to defeat censorship attacks and preserve civil rights and education in our country.