U.S. Department of Education Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Portland Public Schools’ Center for Black Student Excellence
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating alleged violations of federal civil rights law by Portland Public Schools (PPS) that is offering certain programs exclusively to Black students.
Source: U.S. Department of Education / Office for Civil Rights annual report FY 2024 highlights
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The investigation will place Portland’s Center for Black Student Excellence into a test case at the national level.
A recent $1.2 billion bond includes tens of millions for academic interventions, wraparound support, facilities, and family programs for Black students.
A Complaint was Lodged by a Virginia-Based Conservative Parents Education Group
The investigation, announced in a press release yesterday, follows a complaint filed by Parents Defending Education, a conservative group based in Virginia.
It claims that PPS is allegedly discriminating at its Center for Black Student Excellence in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
PPS Board Voted Against Spending $40 Million on a Native Student Success Center
The complaint argues that other struggling student groups are not receiving the same level of support from PPS, and notes that the PPS board voted against a proposal to spend $40 million on a Native Student Success Center.
The Center for Black Student Excellence’s mission is to advance Black students’ success in math and reading, while also providing essential food assistance and transportation support.
Students from Different Racial Groups are Struggling
Nevertheless, Parents Defending Education point out that school data from the 2021–2022 school year shows that many students across different racial groups are also facing academic challenges.
The complaint is that despite large sums of money being spent on Black student education, only 17% of third-grade students met reading standards in the 2021-2022 school year.
Similar results were recorded among Native American students (17.6%) and Pacific Islander students (16.7%).
| Student group | Grade 3 reading proficiency / 2021 to 2022 | High school graduation rate / 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 17% | 79.4% |
| Native American | 17.6% | 61.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 16.7% | Not stated in press release |
| Latinx | Not stated in press release | 73.7% |
There are Also Gaps in Graduation Rates
There are also gaps reflected in graduation rates during the same academic school year, when 79% of Black students graduated from high school, while Native American students (61.5%) and Latino students (73.7%) reflected lower rates.
The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberley Richey says federal law requires schools to treat all students equally. She says if students from different racial groups are struggling, resources should not be limited to only one group.
The Officer for Civil Rights Will Investigate Discrimination Claims
The Office for Civil Rights will review the complaint to assess whether the PPS district is complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs.