The Supreme Court has ruled this week in two decisions that directly impact Washington state charter schools, families, and employees.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court blocked the Trump Administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children with temporary permission to stay in the country.
Many public school students and employees, including those at charter public schools, are DACA recipients. Three years ago, we asked for your help to keep DACA in place when it was under threat of removal. Today, we celebrate this decision and reiterate our commitment to standing up for the civil rights of all students at every turn – regardless of their immigration status.
The Supreme Court also upheld the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans with a 6-3 decision that confirmed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, extends to claims of gender identity and sexual orientation. For LGBTQIA+ Americans this decision codifies their equal status in employment upheld in the Civil Rights Act. Supreme Court observers foresee this decision acting as a precedent to ensure equal protection in other parts of civic life.
WA Charters has long championed our diverse workforce and community, including LGBTQIA+ individuals. And today we celebrate this decision to ensure equal protection under the law extends even further. We underscore our continued and unequivocal support of LGBTQIA+ members of our community to fully and freely access employment and educational opportunities we can offer.
It’s been a big week at the Supreme Court and for communities across the country who can feel more secure today because of these momentous decisions. But the work is not done. WA Charters continues to commit to deeper engagement with communities to dismantle racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and unjust structures, and to support our schools, communities, and students working to achieve their full potential through more just and equitable systems.