Realizing that education is the road to a better life for immigrants from all countries, AALDEF has provided legal assistance to parents and students asserting their rights to equal educational opportunities. We have also conducted extensive community education and community organizing support across the country in places such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington DC, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here are a few of our activities and achievements:

Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District, Meredith v. Jefferson County Schools
AALDEF filed a brief on behalf of 14 Asian American youth-serving organizations across the country in this United States Supreme Court case concerning voluntary racial integration plans in public schools. Although the Court ultimately struck down the challenged plans in Seattle, WA and Louisville, KY, a 5 member majority found a compelling government interest in diversity and racial integration. AALDEF has worked with local Asian American advocates in San Francisco and Chicago to maintain diversity in public schools.

Oung, et al. v. Lowell School Committee
AALDEF won a suit on behalf of Cambodian and Latino teachers in Lowell, Massachusetts, who were dismissed due to a discriminatory and flawed English fluency test. Although Lowell has appealed the decision, the teachers are now back at work and awaiting full back pay and retroactive benefits.

Capacity Building and Community Education

National Asian American Educational Advocates (NAAEA)
AALDEF is spearheading this groundbreaking effort to link youth groups and after-school service providers across the country to advocate for Asian American students in kindergarten through 12th grade public education. In addition to monthly conference calls sharing best practices and technical assistance, AALDEF has conducted site visits providing staff and youth training and organizing support. In April 2008, the first ever NAAEA summit in New York City allows members to meet face to face and select advocacy priorities.

Student Advocates for Educational Rights (SAFER): Student organizing in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
AALDEF’s high school interns lead SAFER, a peer organizing group, to educate Bensonhurst’s immigrant community on its rights. The troubled Lafayette High School, located in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, was under an unprecedented United States Department of Justice consent decree due to civil rights violations concerning immigrant Asian students. AALDEF works with SAFER and the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn (UCA) to build long-term community infrastructure in Bensonhurst, one of the fastest-growing Chinese immigrant neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

Massachusetts Education and Youth Justice Project: Capacity building in Greater Boston, MA
Recognizing the need for public education advocacy for Greater Boston’s Asian American students, AALDEF works with local community based organizations to provide direct representation, policy advocacy and community education. We present monthly youth rights workshops at Boston Asian Youth Essential Service, and partner with Asian American youth groups throughout the Greater Boston area to provide capacity building and advocacy support. We also collaborate and strategize with advocates throughout Massachusetts on policy efforts to address the school to prison pipeline and other juvenile justice issues.

Publications

Asian Youth Unite Against Hate Violence
AALDEF produced “Asian Youth Unite Against Hate Violence,” a skit-based youth training video about harassment in public schools. AALDEF’s high school interns wrote and acted out these skits based on their real life experiences. The video is narrated by actor B.D. Wong and contains a soundtrack featuring recording artists Jin and Blue Scholars. AALDEF has conducted trainings across the country using this video.

Left In The Margins: Asian American Students and the No Child Left Behind Act
AALDEF published a report on the controversial No Child Left Behind Act’s (NCLB) impact on diverse Asian American communities. Highlighting disaggregated data about the educational experiences of Asian Americans, AALDEF bursts the model minority myth and presents policy changes needed to amend NCLB and create meaningful education reform.