Advocates for Educational Equity
Education Rights Counsel removes legal barriers so all children stay in school and thrive.
We work for: Families Communities Attorneys
ERC for FAMILIES
We Secure the Rights of Children and Families
ERC believes in all children, and champions every child’s right to stay in school, make appropriate progress and meet challenging objectives.
ERC for COMMUNITIES
Together We're Creating Our Collective Vision for Equitable Education
ERC is privileged to work with numerous non-profits, schools, the juvenile courts, and educators, providing general consults, tailored training and collaboration on projects.
ERC for ATTORNEYS
We Help You Build Your Practice and Strength Your Skills
ERC offers free and tailored CLE, serves as a sounding board, and pays low-bono rates to trained counsel who assist us in meeting client needs.
News
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Local educator's career of inclusion earns top honor
ERC will honor Meribeth Jackson with the first-ever Debora Basler Wisneski Inclusive Innovation in Education Award at Raise the Bar.
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Omaha Mom Talks podcast features ERC's Lauren Micek Vargas
Omaha Mom Talks podcaster Jessie Gutierrez talked with Lauren about special education advocacy and more.
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Section 504: the History and Current Risk
We are witnessing a coordinated effort to weaken protections for people with disabilities. Section 504 was born from protest, it must be defended with the same urgency.
Read MoreOur Programs
Upcoming Events
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Children's Justice Attorney Education Program Workshop
Lauren Micek Vargas will represent ERC in Kearney, Nebraska.
September 8, 2025
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Children's Justice Clinic Seminar
Lauren Micek Vargas to present at the University of Nebraska Law College in Lincoln.
September 15, 2025
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2025 CIP Children's Summit - Inspiring Hope for the Future
Lauren Micek Vargas and Liz McClelland to present.
September 23, 2025
Details on the 2025 Summit -
2025 Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk & Family Festival
Heartland of America Park • Omaha, Nebraska
September 28, 2025
Details on the Step Up Walk -
An Evening in the Cloud Room 2025
Join us for ERC's annual silent auction and cocktail party.
November 13, 2025
More on the 2025 Cloud Room Event
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See Some of our Work
Special Education
Jasmine's Story
Jasmine struggled to stay focused and was angry because she was behind in school. ERC helped create an effective IEP so Jasmine could succeed, be proud of her work, and learn tools to become her best self-advocate.
Training & Contracting Services
Little Leaf Learning Center
Little Leaf offers an education program for children with Down Syndrome, serving children starting at 18 months old. They contracted with ERC to provide training and individual assistance for their families to help understand the entire verification and IEP process.
Student Discipline
Adela & Marc
Adela is a lawyer and Guardian ad Litem for Marc who was disciplined by the school district for inappropriate behavior and referred to Juvenile Court. Adela suspected there were missing education pieces, and needed help with school discipline hearing process. ERC collaborated with Adela to help Marc.
Research & Data
Devon's Story
Devon, a teacher in a Nebraska school district, approached ERC with a unique concern. His observation was that Black children, especially those with disabilities, seemed to be disciplined more often in his school and asked us for our observations about the disparity in discipline locally and across the country. Nebraska had no statewide tracking system for data and the federal system does not track all discipline. With the assistance of a grant, ERC collaborated with schools, students and policymakers to ensure that Nebraska’s data collection includes discipline data across the state.