When racial disparities persist across schools, districts, states, and generations—particularly in disciplinary categories governed by subjective judgment—they become evidence of a pattern worth examining.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools over alleged "transition plans." The superintendent has denied withholding information from parents.
The department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued new federal guidance warning school leaders that they should not consider a student's race in discipline matters or they would risk being investigated.
The U.S. Department of Justice found the district routinely violated its own policies and Missouri law when it relied on seclusion and restraint as a regular practice, rather than a final resort.
Education Department has opened 20 investigations into unnamed school districts that are allegedly failing to address sexual misconduct by staff members.
The U.S. Department of Education says New York discriminated against a Long Island school district for keeping its Native American mascot, violating federal civil rights law. Secretary Linda McMahon said the state ban is unfair because mascots like “Dutchmen” and “Huguenots” are still allowed.