Department of Education Investigates School District for Mascot Name Change
The Department of Education (ED) announced on Thursday that a school district in Long Island, New York, is under scrutiny for potentially violating federal law. This investigation stems from the district’s decision to change its mascot name, allegedly due to its Native American origins.
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the ED concluded its investigation into the Connetquot Central School District and found that renaming the Thunderbirds mascot to T-Birds violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The rationale behind this change was to align with New York State Department of Education regulations, which restrict the use of Native American imagery in school mascots and logos. Interestingly, mascots representing other cultural groups, like “Dutch” and “Huguenot,” are still permitted.
The ED emphasized that this action amounts to an illegal classification based on race and national origin within educational policies. “Today, we found that the Connetquot Central School District violated Title VI by erasing Native American heritage to comply with New York State’s discriminatory ordinances. We will not tolerate ideologues deciding that some mascots are acceptable while others are not based on national origin. Equal treatment under the law is non-negotiable,” commented Kimberly Ritchie, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
The OCR had previously determined in May 2025 that the state regulations similarly breached Title VI. Following this, in September 2025, the district’s board agreed to a settlement that confirmed adherence to state regulations and opted to change the team’s name.
Furthermore, the OCR presented the district with a proposed resolution agreement that would mandate the re-adoption of the “Thunderbirds” name for its sports teams, logos, and mascots.
“We expect the district to act in good faith, address the civil rights violations, and comply with our resolution agreement to restore the Thunderbirds’ rightful name,” Ritchie stated. “The administration is committed to ensuring that all communities receive equal treatment under the law.”
The ED noted that Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in educational programs or activities as a prerequisite for receiving federal funding.
