On July 23^rd, Michael A. Rebell, Executive Director of the Campaign for Educational Equity, spoke at a seminar given by the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media for reporters new to the education beat.  Rebell was one of two experts on a panel entitled "School Funding Lawsuits: Costs, Outcomes and Obstacles in Adequacy Litigation."  The other expert was Larry Pincus from the University of California and the panel was moderated by TC's Professor Luis Huerta.

Rebell gave an overview of the education adequacy movement.  He told the audience of reporters that the education adequacy movement began more than 30 years ago and has developed into the present-day education rights movement.  As a result of the education adequacy movement, courts across the country, based on their states' constitutions, have established education as a child's basic right. 

Rebell explained that in the early years, most of these cases sought equal per-pupil funding ("equity"), but state defendants won about two-thirds of those cases. Since 1989, however, education advocates and lawyers have emphasized a different legal theory -'"known as "education adequacy"-'" that has led to a dramatic wave of plaintiff victories. Over the past 16 years, plaintiffs have prevailed in 21 of the 28 (75 %) highest state court cases that have been based on "adequacy claims" that all students must be provided the resources they need for a meaningful education and in meeting the challenging new state standards.

The reporters were a lively group asking many questions of Rebell especially those reporters from states where adequacy cases are currently pending.

For more information on the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media at Teachers College, see: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/hechinger/

Published Monday, Aug. 7, 2006