Parents Defending Education Requests Investigation into Rochester City School District’s Equity Policy

Parents Defending Education (PDE) has sent a letter to the Director and Regional Attorney of the New York District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requesting an investigation into Rochester City School District in Rochester, New York for employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq.

PDE makes this investigation request as an interested third-party organization with members who are parents of school children throughout the country. PDE and its members oppose racial discrimination and political indoctrination in America’s schools. Rochester City School District has updated its equity policy to implement quotas for hiring diverse educators and staff. This equity policy promotes race-based hiring and educator retention in the District. Attached to this complaint is supporting evidence in the form of a presentation titled, “Staff Diversity & Staffing Update: Building a workforce our students need” (Exhibit A), which outlines the District’s strategic goals for hiring and retaining a diverse staff and “REAL-Racial Equity Action Plan” (Exhibit B), which outlines the District’s Racial Equity Advocacy Leadership Team Vision Statement.

Therefore, the Rochester City School District’s imposed hiring and recruitment process underscore that not all candidates are weighed the same through the hiring process—and that this exclusion would be based on an individual’s race.

Rochester City School District cannot discriminate based on race for employment decisions. We ask that your office promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief.