.svg) | |
| Long title | Denial of equal access prohibited |
|---|---|
| Enacted by | the 98th United States Congress |
| Effective | August 11, 1984 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 20 U.S.C. § 4071 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 20 |
| U.S.C. sections created | 4071 |
| Legislative history | |
| |
| United States Supreme Court cases | |
| Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226 (1990) | |
The Equal Access Act is a United States federal law passed as Title VIII of the Education for Economic Security Act in 1984 to compel federally funded public secondary schools to provide equal access to extracurricular student clubs. Lobbied for by Christian groups who wanted to ensure students the right to conduct Bible study programs during lunch and after school, it is also essential in litigation regarding the right of students to form gay–straight alliances;[1] and to form groups focused on any religion or on secularism.[2] The Equal Access Act mandates public schools provide equal access to extracurricular school clubs.
- ^ Stewart, Chuck (2001). Homosexuality and the Law: A Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-1-57607-267-7.
- ^ "The Equal Access Act and Roadblocks to Organizing | Secular Student Alliance". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.