This week, ThinkProgress’ Ian Millhiser explored a connection between marriage equality and quality public education in an in-depth look at the constitutional theory behind the groundbreaking new federal education equality lawsuit Martinez v. Malloy. He interviewed Joshua S. Lipshutz, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs in Martinez, a case filed in federal district court challenging state anti-opportunity […continue]
![\"Jennifer](\"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/2_16_2015-150x150.jpg\")
\u201cWe stand with the plaintiffs in this case who \u2014 as other civil rights and social justice advocates before them \u2014 are seeking relief from the courts when other methods have failed them. This case is fundamentally about addressing our highly inequitable access to quality schools. Our current state laws knowingly force children to attend chronically failing schools and systematically deny them access to better-performing ones. When all other methods have failed them, the parents have turned to the courts to resolve this unconstitutional inequity.\u00a0Generations of students have suffered because of barriers that restrict access to quality public school options, especially in areas where our students are most vulnerable. This systemic inequality of opportunity for parents and students who have few other choices hurts everyone over time. Improving these outcomes is a moral and economic imperative.\u201d\r\n![\"shavar-226x300\"](\"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/shavar-226x300-150x150.jpg\")
\u201cWe support the four Connecticut parents and families who are choosing to fight to ensure that their students \u2013 and students across the state \u2013 have access to a high-quality public education, no matter their zip code. Every child deserves the chance to fulfill his or her limitless potential, and while it\u2019s unfortunate the families had to turn to the courts in order to receive the equitable opportunities they are entitled to, we stand with them in their commitment to addressing one of the greatest civil rights and social justice issues of our time. We look forward to this case\u2019s next steps and are hopeful that Connecticut\u2019s students and their best interests will prevail.\u201d","post_title":"Martinez v. Malloy Press Kit","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"press-kit","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2016-08-26 13:10:18","post_modified_gmt":"2016-08-26 20:10:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":6035,"guid":"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/?post_type=case&p=6069","menu_order":0,"post_type":"case","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6065,"post_author":"8","post_date":"2016-08-24 07:44:49","post_date_gmt":"2016-08-24 14:44:49","post_content":"","post_title":"Timeline","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"timeline","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2018-01-31 12:40:25","post_modified_gmt":"2018-01-31 20:40:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":6035,"guid":"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/?post_type=case&p=6065","menu_order":1,"post_type":"case","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6035,"post_author":"8","post_date":"2016-08-23 14:40:32","post_date_gmt":"2016-08-23 21:40:32","post_content":"Every child deserves to go to a quality public school that helps him or her achieve the American Dream. Unfortunately, for too many Connecticut students, that isn\u2019t the reality. That\u2019s why a group of parents and students filed Martinez v. Malloy<\/em><\/a>, a federal lawsuit against the State of Connecticut challenging a set of state laws and policies that knowingly and actively prevent students from accessing even minimally acceptable public school options.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThroughout Connecticut and across the country, many public schools \u2014 including magnet, traditional and charter schools \u2014 are delivering a world-class education to students of all backgrounds. With the same amount of public funding, students in high-performing schools are learning Mandarin, playing instruments, coding and computing, thinking critically and preparing to meet the challenges of the 21st<\/sup> century. We know what works. But miles-long waitlists prove that while there is an overwhelming demand for great schools across the state, we just don\u2019t have the seats to accommodate every child.\r\n\r\n![\"Empty](\"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Empty-Classroom.jpg\")
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Martinez v. Malloy<\/em> Student Plaintiff Jose Martinez[\/caption]\r\n![\"Martinez](\"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Martinez-v.-Malloy_Jaidyn-Bryan-Dahlia-Bryan-Jorr-Moorley_Case-Filing.jpg\")
Martinez v. Malloy<\/em>\u00a0Student Plaintiffs Jaidyn (left) and Jorr (right) with\u00a0Their Mom, Parent Plaintiff Dahlia Bryan[\/caption]\r\n![\"StudentsMatter](\"http:\/\/studentsmatter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/StudentsMatter_NewsMemes_Testimony_1.jpg\")
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