Defending Ed Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Oakland Unified School District for Race and Sex Discrimination

On September 10, 2026, Defending Education filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), alleging discrimination based on race and sex in violation of Title VI, Title IX, and the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. OUSD receives millions of dollars in federal funding each year, yet it continues to operate programs that discriminate against students based on race and sex.

Over the past decade, OUSD has offered racially discriminatory programs to students ranging from high school seniors to three-year-old preschoolers. These programs provide additional academic support, mentoring, and even cash payments based on students’ race and sex.

One of the most egregious examples is the district’s “Latino Men and Boys” program, which offered tutoring, mentoring, health support, and stipends exclusively to Latino boys. A similar program, “Latinx Mentoring and Achievement,” provided $430,000 to support “female-identified youth and non-binary youth” of Latin American descent, including assistance with food, housing, and access to health care for Latino students and their families.

By making benefits and opportunities available to students based on race and sex, these programs unlawfully exclude other students and violate Title VI, Title IX, and the Equal Protection Clause.

Accordingly, Defending Education has asked that the Department promptly investigate all allegations in its complaint, remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief.

Read the full complaint: