Title "Courts and Kids: Pursuing Educational Equity Through the State Courts" Written Author Michael Rebell Author Institution Columbia University, and Campaign for Educational Equity Author Role Faculty External Link [ External Link ] Abstract Countering the recent slew of books by Eric Hanushek, Al Lindseth, Paul Peterson and other critics of education adequacy and sound basic education litigations, a new book by Michael A. Rebell argues that successful outcomes in these cases, which have been initiated in dozens of states, is essential if the United States is to achieve its stated policy goals of eliminating achievement gaps and providing equal educational opportunity to all children. Courts and Kids: Pursuing Educational Equity Through the State Courts, just released by the University of Chicago Press, provides a history, and current status report on these constitutional challenges to financial and other inequities in state education systems, together with recommendations for how successful and long-lasting remedies can be put into place. Over the past thirty-five years, federal courts have dramatically retreated from actively promoting school desegregation. Rebell argues in this book that state courts have taken up the mantle of promoting the vision of educational equity originally articulated in Brown v. Board of Education. Courts and Kids is the first detailed analysis of why the state courts have taken on this active role and how successful their efforts have been. While the plaintiffs have won in the majority of these cases, the decisions are often branded “judicial activism”—a stigma that has reduced their impact. To counter the charge, Rebell defends the courts’ authority and responsibility to pursue the goal of educational equity. He envisions their role as being primarily supervisory, and offers innovative recommendations on how the courts can collaborate with the executive and legislative branches to create an effective and truly democratic educational system. Citation (University of Chicago Press, 2009) Related Case Category: Education Rebell, Michael A. (NY) back new search Contact Report an Error Privacy Policy The Clearinghouse has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation.