The Department of Education announced Tuesday it has launched a Title VI investigation into Chicago Public Schools (CPS) over an academic program accused of discriminating against students based on race.
The investigation follows a complaint filed by Defending Education, a nonprofit organization committed to restoring integrity to schools by challenging activist agendas. The complaint centers on CPS’s 2023-2024 “Black Students Success Plan,” which Defending Education argues violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by providing remedial academic support exclusively to black students, despite acknowledging that students of all races are struggling academically.
According to a Department of Education news release, Title VI prohibits any discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance. The Office for Civil Rights formally sent a letter notifying CPS of the investigation on Tuesday afternoon.
Chicago Public Schools has not responded to requests for comment.
Defending Education President Nicole Neily criticized CPS leadership for prioritizing race-based programs over serving all students fairly. “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,” Neily said.
Neily also pointed out that CPS is grappling with dismal academic proficiency rates, widespread disciplinary problems, and a nearly $10 billion budget deficit, yet district leaders chose to allocate limited resources based on race rather than need.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor condemned CPS’s approach, stating, “Rather than address its record honestly, CPS seeks to allocate additional resources to favored students on the basis of race.” He pledged that the Trump administration’s Department of Education would not allow federal funds intended for all students to be used in a discriminatory manner.
This case mirrors a previous situation in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where, following a complaint from Defending Education, officials dropped race as an official factor from their “Black Student Achievement Plan.”
