James Lyons Email & Phone Number

Arlington, Va

Education and civil rights policy advocacy and research.

Occasional contributor.

Full-time caregiver to terminally-ill late wife; real estate agent; established, operated, and sold first garment “wetcleaner” (non-toxic) business in Delaware; established and operated GRAZIE!, a seasonal gelato & espresso carryout cafe in Rehoboth Beach Delaware

Washington, Dc

Responsible for leading and developing this unique national non-profit professional and advocacy membership organization. Increased the Association's self-supported budget from $350,000 to almost $2 million over a five-year period with concomitant expansion of staff, services, and activities. Principal spokesperson and strategist on national legislation and policies affecting language-minority students and families.

Washington, Dc

Solo practice in equal educational and economic opportunity. Served as Legislative & Policy Counsel to the National Association for Bilingual Education (1982-1989). In that capacity was principal author and strategist for the 1984 Bilingual Education Act co-sponsored by Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), Baltasar Corrada (D-PR), John McCain (R-AZ) and Steve Bartlet (R-TX). Legislation was passed by both House and Senate without amendment and signed by President Ronald Reagan.Washington Representative of the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras for whom I also organized a University operated Capitol Language Institute on Capitol Hill to teach Spanish to 26 Members of Congress.Consultant to the National Puerto Rican Coalition for whom I prepared analyses and published reports on the impact of Internal Revenue Code Section 936 on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican community on the mainland.Consultant to the National Council of La Raza for whom I prepared analyses and published reports of congressional voting records on issues of significance to Hispanic Americans.

Washington, Dc

Successfully developed a policy to effectuate Secretary Terrel Bell's public announcement, made when he took office, that the Department "will protect the rights of children who do not speak English well, but we will do so by permitting school disricts to use any way that has proven successful." The policy included developing new compliance standards based on the 1981 decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Castaneda v. Pickard that an acceptable program must meet three tests: Theory, Practice, and Results. Also revised OCR investigative procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The compliance standards I developed are still utilized by the Offices for Civil Rights in both the U.S. Education Department and the U.S. Justice Department.

Washington, Dc

Appointed by President Jimmy Carter for advise the Assistant Secretary for Legislation on civil rights, program access and equity issues in the newly-formed U.S. Department of Education. Education Secretary Shirley Hufstedler named me congressional point person to address congressional concerns over the Department's first rule-making exercise -- the August 5, 1980 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to enforce Lau v. Nichols.

Washington, Dc

Responsible for promoting the Commission's government-wide recommendations regarding civil rights through effective liaison with Congress, other Executive Departments, and private civil rights organizations. Analyzed legislation, prepared congressional testimony, and developed Commission comments on Executive policies, regulations, and operations regarding: equal employment opportunity and affirmtive action in both the public and private sectors; equal educational opportunity; bilingual education and school desegregation; equal credit opportunity and federal fair housing enforcment; the Voting Rights Act, revenue sharing, and nondiscrimination enforcement throughout the federal government.

Washington, Dc

Conducted education policy research with emphasis on the needs and rights of minority students. Authored several major Commission reports on school desegregation and equality of educational opportunity in public schools.

Washington, Dc

Worked with the civil rights legend, social psychologist Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, on research relating to urban public education with special focus on treatment of minority students for publication in "A Possible Reality," a plan to reform the D.C. Public Schools. Also manually prepared a legislative redistricting plan for the South Carolina State legislature to remedy under-representation of Black voters; plan was implemented pursuant bo a federal court order.

J.D., Law

Graduate Studies, American Thought & Civilization

Activities and Societies: National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), American Thought & Civilization

Activities and Societies: Full Boad of Trustees Scholarship