Archive for July, 2011
All Children Have Right to Public Education
7.26.11
It has been brought to our attention that certain school districts are requiring Social Security Identification for enrollment in K-12 school. It is unlawful to require more than proof of residence (such as a gas or electric bill), immunization forms, & a birth certificate as a condition of enrollment in public schools. It is not required that a birth certificate be from the United States. The birth certificate is simply a means to determine the age of the student. Oklahoma law allows for other forms such as a baptismal or an affidavit to verify proof of age. No public school may legally require a Social Security card.
School administrators cannot deny admission to a student based on his or her immigration status or require parents or students to disclose their immigrant status or social security numbers. Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982) In addition, if a district chooses to request a social security number, it shall inform the individual that the disclosure is voluntary, provide the statutory or other basis upon which it is seeking the number, and explain what uses will be made of it. 5 U.S.C. §552a
If your child is denied enrollment please contact the ACLU of Oklahoma at (405) 524-8511 or acluok@acluok.org.
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Title IX: The Game’s Not Over
7.14.11
Posted by Allie Shinn in Commentary
As the United States Women’s Soccer Team fights their way to the World Cup Gold, we at the ACLU can’t help but be proud of the great strides women have made since Title IX became law. When more women participate in sports and achieve in fields that have traditionally been male dominated, we begin to close the gender gap and pull ourselves closer to equality.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in schools. Since its passage, women and girls seeking to participate in athletics have found a path through which to do so. A 2006 study found that since 1972 women’s participation in sports at the collegiate level increased 450%. The same study found that nine times more women participated in high school sports than did in 1972.
Of course, Title IX’s scope reaches further than sports alone. In 1970, women accounted for only 17.5% of bachelor’s degrees granted in natural sciences and engineering. By 2004, the percentage rose to 38.4%. In the year 2000, 65.7% of high school girls took chemistry. Today, more than half of all bachelor’s degrees completed in chemistry are earned by women.
These numbers are inspiring and indicate how important Title IX has More >