Pandemic Relief Funds Redirected to Anti-Racism Training in Albuquerque Schools
In a surprising use of federal pandemic relief funds, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) directed hundreds of thousands of dollars—initially intended to address student learning losses—toward “anti-racism” training for teachers and administrators. Specifically, APS approved $336,500 from the American Rescue Plan in 2021 for training associated with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB). However, financial records revealed by America First Legal indicate the total expenditures for this training approach nearly $700,000.
Officials from the district have stated they cannot verify the exact amount spent or the portion that came from federal COVID relief money, citing lack of immediate access to the necessary records.
PISAB has received funding from the Open Society Foundations, established by George Soros, and has created training resources that instruct participants—particularly “White folks”—on the historical context of their racial identity while critiquing societal structures that maintain systemic racism.
Within APS, various programs were developed, including “Community Conversations” focused on core equity principles, along with various workshops aimed at “undoing racism.” The training was conducted by the Anti-Racism Training Institute of the Southwest (ARTI) which has collaborated with PISAB for over two decades.
Initially tailored for school leadership, these trainings eventually reached hundreds of district employees. During the 2020-21 school year, APS principals and assistant principals took part in “Community Conversations,” which were specifically designed for the district around the organizing principles of PISAB. By July 2022, records showed that at least 721 staff members within APS had taken part in ARTI training sessions.
Bobby Crossin from America First Legal criticized the allocation of federal aid intended for pandemic recovery, suggesting it was misappropriated for what he termed “critical race theory indoctrination.”
The concerns expressed by Julie Levin, senior counsel at America First Legal, included the usage of pandemic relief funds at a time when schools should have been focusing on student recovery efforts. “Rather than using that money to help students, they opted for anti-racism trainings,” Levin stated, emphasizing that taxpayer dollars were employed for what she described as indoctrination rather than education.
Documentation suggests that APS had greater ambitions for its training initiatives, proposing close to $1 million in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training through 2024, potentially impacting nearly 2,000 individuals annually. There were even discussions about extending these programs to include students directly.
In the fall of 2022, APS officials considered adding a student component to their equity and anti-racism model, which would have engaged 20 to 30 students in multiple middle and high schools. However, APS reported that this student engagement aspect was never put into action.
Despite criticism, APS maintained that the training aligned with their goals to enhance educational outcomes for students. A spokesperson for the district noted that the program was primarily used to improve attendance and academic performance.
Levin pointed out that the issues in Albuquerque reflect a broader trend, stating that PISAB offers similar training programs across various U.S. cities. America First Legal plans to keep highlighting instances where educational funding is diverted towards ideological agendas that, in their view, threaten to divide communities.
Fox News Digital has reached out to PISAB seeking comment on these matters.
