OCR COMPLAINT: Kirkwood School District – Student Affinity Groups

On October 4, 2024, Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against Kirkwood School District in Kirkwood, MO 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. Kirkwood School District has affinity group programming for some students, that is not open to all. The District allows only some students to participate in affinity group programming and their participation is based on immutable characteristics.

Attached to this complaint is evidence in the form of a District email to parents at Nipers Middle School, which states affinity groups are not open to all (Exhibit A), “KEESS: Affinity Group” speaker series web video, which explains the purpose of affinity groups in the District (Exhibit B), “Kirkwood Staff of Color Newsletter,” which outlines a scholarship only accessible to students of color (Exhibit C), “About KEESS” webpage, which explains why “safe spaces” are important in the District (Exhibit D), Kirkwood Middle School’s “Affinity Group Tutoring” webpage (Exhibit E), and “Tillman students donate” webpage on the District website, which pays homage to $800 raise by elementary students for BIPOC scholarship (Exhibit F).

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.