Minnesota School District Hit With Federal Complaint Over Race-Based Discrimination

A Minnesota school district was hit with a federal complaint by Parents Defending Education (PDE), which claims that the district engaged in race-based discrimination.

The complaint against Minnesota’s Rochester Public Schools was filed after the district allegedly used funds to support affinity group programs and professional development initiatives that barred white employees from participation.

“Parents Defending Education (PDE) brings this complaint against Rochester Public Schools in Rochester, MN 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,” the organization wrote in its federal complaint to the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

The complaint goes on to explain that the district received over $136,000 in grants from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board in support of various different race-based programs. One such program, called the Employees of Color Resource Group, appears to discriminate against white professionals as it offers paid professional development opportunities.

“We have funds to pay for equity PD for our group, so if there are opportunities that you are interested in, please contact us so we can set it up,” the employee group site reads.

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The district also boasted an initiative called “Grow Your Own,” which sought to “increase and support the number of educators of color in our district.” The description of the initiative went on to add that the program “will support teachers/individuals of color who want to pursue a career in teaching.”

The race-based program offered participants access to scholarships, “partnership with Minnesota PELBS Accredited University,” “Advising and Navigator Support,” and “Employees of Color Resource Group Access.”

“We ask that the Department promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief,” the complaint from PDE concludes.

The complaint from PDE comes after the organization previously filed a different federal complaint against California’s La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District over hiring practices that specifically sought to “achieve an increase in diversity” among new hires.