RESOLVED OCR Complaint: Olympia School District

On February 14, 2023, Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against Olympia School District in Olympia, Washington for discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin 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 that opposes racial discrimination and political indoctrination in America’s schools. Olympia School District is using taxpayer funding to offer weekly affinity group programming during school hours for students of specific races that are not open to all students.

Attached to this complaint is supporting evidence in the form of an email from the Principal of Olympia Centennial Elementary School to a parent, which states affinity groups are “limited to students who identify as BIPOC” (Exhibit A).

Exhibit A affirms not all students would be welcome in the 4th and 5th grade BIPOC affinity groups and that this exclusion is solely based on an individual’s race (Ex. A at 3).

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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RESOLVED: On November 26, 2024 the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights resolved the complaint stating that “the BIPOC affinity group at CES has been opened to all students regardless of race, color, or national origin.” See the letter here.