What Is Equal Opportunity in Education?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 15, 2020

Equal opportunity in education means that each state must provide the same opportunities for everyone who attends school regardless of gender, race, color or nationality. It also means that school districts must take action to overcome barriers to students’ equal participation.

Equal opportunity in education became law in 1974 with the passing of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act. The ground work for this was laid with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned segregation of African Americans and women. The EEOA takes this a step further by adding faculty and staff to the list of protected people, allowing people who have suffered discrimination to file suit against whomever is responsible.