WASHINGTON–Lawmakers and Asian American Center for Advancing Justice members welcomed the new guidance, recently issued by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, which supports voluntary efforts to promote diversity and reduce racial isolation in primary, secondary and postsecondary education.

The Advancing Justice members are the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC).

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (HI-2, Chair of the Education Taskforce of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the “guidance will help ensure that students in Hawaii and across the country have the chance to succeed in school and in their chosen careers.”

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair, commented: “This will help provide our future workforce with the experiences, skills, and understanding they need to succeed in an increasingly global economy.”

The guidance was issued to clarify three Supreme Court decisions–Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger–which specifically addressed the consideration of race by educational institutions.

The guidance on postsecondary institutions includes descriptions on how race can be taken into account for admissions, pipeline programs, outreach, mentorship, retention efforts, and support programs to achieve diversity.

“This guidance shows a commitment to alleviate racial and economic isolation in our schools and to the success of our nation’s young people,” said Jacinta S. Ma, AAJC’s deputy director.

“The invaluable benefits to all students of learning in a racially and ethnically diverse environment are well-documented and recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Yungsuhn Park, senior staff attorney at APALC.

“For that reason,” she added, “APALC has long supported the efforts of educational institutions to combat racial segregation and has represented parents, students, and community organizations in cases supporting the consideration of race to avoid segregation and enhance student diversity.”

Christopher Punongbayan, ALC’s deputy director, added: “Education remains an essential tool to advancing in today’s society, but for many poor and working-class people of color, including under-represented Asians and Pacific Islanders, the promise of educational equality is not being met.”