ABSTRACT
AND GENDER This is the first of three chapters dealing with issues of equity in education. This chapter looks at legal efforts to end discrimination based on race and gender. The litigation and legislation it examines challenge a variety of discriminatory practices including forced segregation of the races, gender-based denial of educational opportunity, racial and gender discrimination in school discipline and athletics, and racial and sexual harassment. Chapter 7 examines equity issues relating to student populations with special needs: For students with disabilities or who are limited-English speaking, equality of opportunity may require an educational program that is different and in some cases even separate from the majority of students. Chapter 8 considers a third set of equity issues relating to the way public education is funded.
