Department of Justice Sues Minneapolis Public Schools Over Alleged Racial Discrimination
The Department of Justice initiated a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Minneapolis Public Schools Board, Special School District No. 1, and Superintendent Lisa Sayles Adams, citing claims of racial discrimination in teacher hiring practices.
According to the Justice Department, since July 1, 2021, the involved parties have collaborated with teachers’ unions to provide “preferential treatment” to Black teachers and those from other underrepresented groups during hiring processes. This alleged strategy seems to involve excluding teachers from “underrepresented” backgrounds during decisions related to reassignment and layoffs.
Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed that discrimination of any form is unacceptable, particularly in the realm of hiring. She emphasized that the education system ought to be a model of merit and equal opportunity, rather than leaning towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The complaint also mentions a relationship between the district and a third-party organization called “Black Men Teach.” This organization reportedly offers additional paid training days to its fellows while exempting them from standard layoff policies. Notably, the Justice Department observed that membership in this program is limited solely to Black men.
The Justice Department argues that while the defendants claim these practices aim to combat discrimination, they effectively endorse blatant discrimination based on factors like race and sex. They contend that such policies violate the spirit of fairness in hiring.
Furthermore, MPS documents reveal an intention to increase the percentage of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) employees by 40%. The department also claims that MPS aims for at least 54.3% of new faculty hires to be BIPOC by the 2026-2027 school year.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stressed that employers cannot offer more favorable employment conditions based on a person’s race or sex, reiterating the Department of Justice’s commitment to pursue those who deny equal opportunities based on such classifications.
In its lawsuit, the Department of Justice characterizes these policies as discriminatory and a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They are seeking to ensure that the school district will not be able to implement similar provisions in any collective bargaining agreements moving forward.
The Minneapolis Public Schools did not immediately reply to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
