Parents Defending Education Files Complaint Against California School for Alleged Racial Bias in Teacher Training

Parents Defending Education, an organization focused on parental rights in education, has filed a federal complaint against a California school district for allegedly offering training sessions to some teachers based on their race. The complaint alleges that the San Leandro Unified School District in San Leandro, California, partnered with Kingmakers of Oakland, an organization focused on helping "black boys," to provide training exclusively to certain teachers.

The complaint argues that this practice is discriminatory and violates federal law, which prohibits federally funded schools from discriminating against students on the basis of race. Parents Defending Education claims that by offering training only to certain teachers based on their race, the school district is promoting "race-focused outcomes" and creating an "oppressor vs oppressed" paradigm.

The organization is calling on the Department of Education to investigate the matter and potentially withhold federal funding from the school district. This complaint comes amidst a broader national debate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools. Critics argue that these programs often discriminate against white and Asian students, while supporters say they are necessary to address systemic racism and inequality in education.

The Department of Education has previously warned school districts that they could lose federal funding if they do not comply with federal civil rights law. The agency has also taken action against universities that have been found to be in violation of these laws. It remains to be seen whether the Department of Education will take action against the San Leandro Unified School District in this case.