A parents’-rights organization is taking action against the Rochester, Minn., school system for alleged racial discrimination in its programs and activities.
Parents Defending Education is filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday morning for alleged race-based discrimination in its affinity group programming and opportunities for mentorship and scholarship, National Review has learned.
“PDE and its members oppose discrimination on the basis of race and political indoctrination in America’s schools. Rochester Public Schools has affinity group programming for some teachers, that is not open to all. The District allows only some teachers to participate in affinity group programming, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities and their participation is based on their race,” the complaint reads.
PDE is asking the Education Department’s office of civil rights to investigate whether the Rochester Public Schools district is acting in violation of anti-discrimination law under the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
Rochester Public Schools declined to comment.
The complaint cites a report given to the state legislature, “Minnesota Teacher Mentorship and Retention of Effective Teachers Grant Report to the Legislature,” explaining why $136,400 worth of grant money was allocated to the Rochester schools.
“Rochester Public Schools utilized grant funds to financially support its mentorship-focused Employees of Color Resource Group (EoCRG) affinity program,” the report says.
“The EoCRG program offered train-the-trainer workshops and networking opportunities across schools, and within and between districts, for teachers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to take part in events and opportunities for professional learning and collegial support.”
The Employees of Color Resource Group is an affinity group that provides minority employees with grants, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Eligibility for the group is given only to people from certain racial backgrounds, a criterion that could violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment.
Another aspect of PDE’s complaint is the Rochester Public Schools district’s “grow your own” initiative to recruit teachers who are racial minorities. The “grow your own” webpage says the program is open only to “teachers/individuals of color” who fit certain criteria for joining its pathway for adults to become teachers. The initiative offers participants financial assistance, mentorship, and eligibility for the Employees of Color Resource Group.
The benefits offered by the affinity group and “grow your own” enterprise appear to be limited to people of certain races, but not all teachers in the Rochester public school system.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that race-based college admissions programs were illegal under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, a decision that changed the legal environment surrounding race-based programs in corporate America and education.
Conservative groups have filed numerous challenges to corporate hiring practices and educational opportunities accessible solely to people with certain immutable traits for alleged violations of anti-discrimination law.
The election of Donald Trump to serve another term as president is expected to greatly advance the conservative push to eliminate race-based and gender-based ideologies and programs in education.