Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Launches Title VI Investigation into Chicago Public Schools

This investigation is based on a complaint filed with OCR by Parents Defending Education (now "Defending Education") alleging that CPS has an academic-achievement initiative that discriminates against students, on the basis of race.

The complaint asserts that CPS's 2023-2024 "Black Students Success Plan" violates Title VI by focusing on remedial measures only for black students, despite acknowledging that Chicago students of all races struggle academically.

"Chicago Public Schools have a record of academic failure, leaving students from all backgrounds and races struggling and ill-prepared to meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of contemporary American life," said acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.

"Rather than address its record honestly, CPS seeks to allocate additional resources to favored students, on the basis of race. The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow federal funds, provided for the benefit of all students, to be used in this pernicious and unlawful manner. To CPS, I say this: Every American student deserves access to a quality education, and the Trump Administration will fight tirelessly to uphold that ideal and ensure all students are treated equally under law."

"No student should be denied an educational opportunity because of the color of their skin, yet perversely, that's exactly what Chicago Public Schools has chosen to do – despite the fact that the district's own data clearly demonstrates that students of all races are struggling academically," said Defending Ed president and founder Nicole Neily. "Amid abysmal proficiency rates, discipline crises, and a nearly $10 billion budget deficit, district leaders made a conscious decision to allocate finite resources to some students and not others – and we are grateful that the Department of Education has opened an investigation into this injustice. The education provided by CPS enabled my family to rebuild their lives after leaving the internment camps in California during WWII – which is why I find it particularly lamentable that the system now encourages treating students differently, on the basis of race."

The complaint alleges that CPS developed the "Black Students Success Plan" as part of a "deep equity-focused planning process that will result in support[ing] closing outcome gaps for Black students in the district." The working group featured senior district leaders between December 2023 and April 2024 and convened over a dozen group meetings and community roundtables.

Despite the fact, that the initiative focuses on improving outcomes only for black students, slideshows from the kickoff meeting acknowledge that Chicago students of all races struggle academically. One slide featured in the complaint "highlights black...students' struggle with reading proficiency: only 6 percent are mid or above grade level...but the same graphic shows that Hispanic students face even greater difficulties: 5 percent are mid or above grade level."

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, and national origin in education programs and activities receiving federal funding. Institutions' violation of Title VI can result in loss of federal funds.

Featured

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.