DISMISSED OCR Complaint: Los Angeles Unified School District

On July 11, 2023, Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles, California for discrimination on the basis of race in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance in violation of both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

PDE makes this complaint as an interested third-party organization with members who are parents of school children throughout the country. PDE and its members oppose discrimination on the basis of race and political indoctrination in America’s schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District is offering race-based programming for some students that is not open to all. Attached to this complaint is supporting evidence in the form of a “Black Student Achievement Plan” (BSAP) webpage on District’s website (Exhibit A) and a “Black Student Achievement Plan” booklet (Exhibit B).

As Exhibits A and B show, participation in and benefits from BSAP are based on race.

Accordingly, we ask that the Department promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief.

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DISMISSED: On July 11, 2024 the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights dismissed the complaint stating that the school district has revised the criteria for the program from race-based to achievement, school environment survey and absenteeism-based, and has revised the program “to state that its resources are available to all students regardless of race, color, and national origin.” See the letter here.