School districts across the US, particularly those with programmes aimed at supporting Black students, are increasingly facing legal scrutiny under President Trump’s administration. Initiatives designed to hire more Black teachers, introduce more Black history classes, and address concepts such as white privilege are being challenged as potentially unlawful forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.). This shift has raised significant questions about the legality and future of race-conscious education efforts.Chicago and its surrounding suburbs have emerged as focal points for these disputes. The city’s public schools, which have implemented policies aimed at boosting Black student success, now find themselves at the centre of federal civil rights investigations. The Trump administration is pursuing actions that critics argue could undermine decades of efforts to address racial disparities in education.How Chicago’s Black student success plan became a targetChicago Public Schools recently announced the Black Student Success Plan, which aims to double the number of Black male teachers by 2029, reduce disciplinary actions against Black students, expand Black history coursework, and increase Black student enrolment in advanced classes. This plan is part of a broader strategy the district calls “targeted universalism,” which prioritises those furthest from opportunity with the belief that all students benefit.However, the US Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into the plan. Acting assistant secretary Craig Trainor accused the district of reserving resources for “favoured” students and stated that the administration “will not allow federal funds, provided for the benefit of all students, to be used in this pernicious and unlawful manner,” as reported by the NY Times.Conservative legal groups, including Defending Education, have argued that such race-focused programmes unfairly prioritise Black students while overlooking other groups, such as Hispanic students, who make up nearly half of Chicago’s student population. Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president of Defending Education, described these efforts as “well intentioned but ill advised,” according to the NY Times.Legal challenges extend beyond ChicagoThe suburb of Evanston, north of Chicago, has also faced federal scrutiny over its racial equity initiatives. District 65, overseeing elementary and middle schools in Evanston and Skokie, offers Afrocentric programmes and has implemented policies aimed at enrolling more Black and Hispanic students in advanced courses like eighth-grade Algebra I. Yet the Trump administration has targeted its antiracism training for teachers, which includes sessions on white privilege and white fragility.One complaint, filed by a white drama teacher, Stacy Deemar, accuses the district of creating a “racially charged environment” by requiring staff to participate in these trainings, sometimes held in racially segregated affinity groups. The Trump administration responded by opening an investigation into the district, as noted by the NY Times.District 65 officials have reported improvements including a 50 percent drop in serious behavioural incidents over two years, and increased percentages of students meeting state standards in reading and maths. However, some challenges remain, with many students needing to retake Algebra after graduation.The broader legal and political battle over race-conscious educationThe Trump administration is using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to argue that discussions of white privilege and structural racism may violate laws by fostering hostile environments based on racial stereotypes. It views single-race or single-sex discussion groups as “segregationist activities.”Furthermore, the administration has put forth a novel legal theory asserting that, following the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions, no educational institution may direct benefits toward specific racial groups. A federal judge, however, rejected many of these arguments in August, halting attempts to withhold funding from schools with diversity and equity efforts on grounds of free speech violations, as reported by the NY Times.Experts predict ongoing legal battles. Justin Driver, Yale Law School professor, stated that some districts might quietly alter programmes rather than engage in prolonged litigation, adding that these issues “are going to be in the courts for years to come,” according to the NY Times.Responses from school leaders and politiciansDemocratic leaders in Chicago have strongly defended race-conscious policies. Mayor Brandon Johnson stated there is “nothing illegal” about providing targeted support for Black students, as quoted by the NY Times. Governor JB Pritzker also criticised the federal government’s investigations, framing them as politically motivated attacks on Democrat-led cities.Some districts, like Los Angeles Unified, have modified their Black Student Achievement Plans after similar federal complaints, aiming to meet goals without explicitly race-based criteria.Teachers involved in targeted programmes have emphasised the importance of recognising Black students’ value. Ashley Harris, a second-grade teacher in Chicago, described her lessons on Jackie Robinson and mentoring programmes for Black girls as crucial for positive self-identity development. She rejected claims that such efforts are discriminatory, saying, “That argument is completely rooted in racism,” as reported by the NY Times.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
