Thank you for your support
August 4, 2026
Last week, MAEC submitted a formal public comment opposing the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule to rescind the regulations governing the Equity Assistance Center (EAC) program.
Our comment was one of more than 200 public comments submitted. This strong response reflects the interest of educators, school leaders, advocates, and organizations regarding the role of EACs in supporting schools, local education agencies, and state education agencies.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a comment, shared resources, or encouraged others to take action. Your testimony makes a difference.
MAEC’s Public Comment – submitted July 2026
My name is Dr. Karmen Rouland and I serve as president of the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC). I am writing on behalf of MAEC to strongly oppose the proposed rescission of 34 CFR Part 270.
For over 30 years, MAEC has operated multiple Equity Assistance Centers (EACs), providing civil rights technical assistance to state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies (LEAs), and schools across the country. Today, MAEC houses both the Region I and Region III EACs. Over the past four years, MAEC’s Region I EAC has worked across 13 states with 8 SEAs, 37 LEAs, 72 schools and campuses, more than 900,000 students, and nearly 70,000 educators. Since being awarded Region III in late 2025, MAEC has expanded this reach to an additional 7 states, 3 SEAs, 23 LEAs, 72 schools and campuses, more than 238,000 students, and over 19,000 educators. Our work improves educational outcomes for all students, driven by specialized knowledge and expertise, and a deep understanding of local contexts.
The Equity Assistance Centers exist to ensure that all students have access to quality educational opportunities. We are the only federally-funded technical assistance center dedicated to helping education systems improve outcomes for all students, with a focus on preventing discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, and religion. We are also the only technical assistance center written into federal legislation. Congress authorized the Equity Assistance Centers (originally called “Desegregation Assistance Centers”) in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, recognizing that improving outcomes for special populations requires dedicated technical assistance, not simply compliance oversight or general guidance. Rescinding these regulations removes the primary mechanism Congress established to carry out that purpose.
It is important to clarify what the EACs do and what we don’t do:
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– We provide evidence-based technical assistance requested by states and districts to help educators meet federal requirements and improve student outcomes. Our work includes coaching, capacity building, and implementation support. We do not promote any curricula or ideology. The Equity Assistance Center program does not interact with curricula at all.
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– We are contacted by states and districts who voluntarily request assistance because they have identified a need that requires specialized expertise. We do not seek out our clients.
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– We help states translate policy into practice. We do not direct state policy or impose federal priorities. Our technical assistance is grounded in research and implementation science rather than changing political priorities.
The work of the EACs is designed to be fundamentally different than that of federal agencies. While the Department of Justice enforces civil rights laws and the Department of Education develops policy and administers programs, the Equity Assistance Centers provide sustained support to help states and districts translate policy into practice. Our staff includes former principals, district leaders, educators, counselors, and researchers, with deep expertise in education and civil rights technical assistance. If the EACs are eliminated, schools, districts, and states will lose access to specialized implementation support that neither the Department of Education nor the Department of Justice is structured to provide.
Moreover, the regional design of the current EAC program improves the efficiency of K-12 civil rights technical assistance. As four centers intentionally placed across the United States, we build long-term relationships, develop deep knowledge of local contexts, and serve multiple states with shared expertise. Our work yields highly satisfied clients. In our recent grant cycle as the Region I EAC, an average 96% of participants reported satisfaction with our services, and an average 90% planned to use what they learned in their own work. Similarly, an average 98% of participants reported satisfaction with our Region III training and services in the past year, and an average 98% planned to use what they learned in their work. While some provisions of Part 270 may benefit from updating, it is unclear why rescinding the regulation in its entirety is necessary given the demonstrated success of the current program.
Removing the entire Equity Assistance Center regulation will leave schools, districts, and state education agencies without the sustained support and expertise they rely on to address discrimination and improve educational opportunities for students. The program’s regional model enables long-term relationships, expertise grounded in local contexts, and technical assistance built through decades of shared knowledge and collaboration. Replacing this model with new, disconnected efforts will undermine the effectiveness that schools and districts rely on. As such, we respectfully oppose the proposed rescission of the Equity Assistance Center program (34 CFR Part 270).
Background
For more than 60 years, Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) have closely partnered with schools, districts, and state education agencies to strengthen civil rights practices, build local capacity, and help create equal educational opportunity for all students. The Center for Education Equity (CEE) at MAEC currently operates two of four regional EACs.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has proposed rescinding 34 CFR Part 270, the regulations governing the EAC program. This proposal would dismantle the EAC program and fundamentally change how schools and districts receive civil rights technical assistance. The proposal was open for public comment until July 27, 2026.
Why does this matter?
EACs do more than provide information or cookie-cutter technical assistance. They become true partners to schools, districts, and SEAs, helping education leaders address civil rights challenges and create environments where all students can thrive. This work depends on trust, sustained partnerships, and a deep understanding of educational practice.
ED offers no assurance that the relationships, regional expertise, or capacity that have defined the EAC program for more than six decades will be preserved. Without that infrastructure, schools and districts could lose access to the support they need to meet their civil rights responsibilities.
The nation’s most vulnerable students will be at greater risk of experiencing discrimination, unequal educational opportunities, and diminished access to the protections guaranteed under federal civil rights law.
