A Wisconsin parent claims his son was turned over without the extra academic instruction he needed because of language on the school's website that prioritized students for additional support based on their race. , is considering legal action.
Lawyers with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Freedom, representing their client Mrs. Colby Decker, argued that the Green Bay Area School District's “troublesome” and “unlawful” policies “clearly exclude race-based reading support resources.” “It is a violation of education.” The U.S. Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
“Mrs. Decker's child has dyslexia and is receiving different (and less favorable) services because she is white,” the letter reads.
“Had Mrs. Decker's son been black, Hispanic, or Native American, he would have received better treatment and different services.”
Decker told Fox News Digital that her son had been receiving one-on-one reading services in another school district and thought he would continue receiving them when he moved to his current school district in January 2024, but that he was unable to receive additional support. He said he was placed on a waiting list.
Decker said she learned of the policy after looking at the school's website.
“I asked them straight up, does he receive fewer services or is he a lower priority because he is white? ” Decker said.
“Just asking that question made me feel so uncomfortable, because it’s really scary to think that someone is not getting the services they deserve because of the color of their skin. He responded and to my surprise he was very excited to explain to me about his work with these priority groups.”
Citing the school's website, the letter claims that “the district's literacy policy identifies 'priority group' students: Black, Hispanic, and Native American students,” and that the school will prioritize additional resources. The school states that it will make deliberate efforts to educate priority students. for Indigenous, Black, and Hispanic students; ”
“Multiple district officials say the policy is in effect and extends to Mrs. Decker's son.”
Wording on the school's website states next to an asterisk at the bottom of the page: “Priority performance goals are set based on data showing that they meet the needs of some student groups better than others. ” is stated.
“Focusing on high-priority, high-achieving student groups improves your skills as an educator and ultimately benefits all students.”
In the letter to the school district, “ King Elementary School Success Planthe bill should be repealed in favor of a “color-blind approach” to resource allocation, along with “immediate and appropriate assistance” for Decker's son, who is “unjustly excluded from the opportunity to receive necessary resources.” be.
“It's really morally and legally problematic to see policies that explicitly prioritize resources based on race,” Corey Brewer, general counsel for WILL, told FOX News Digital.
“The law requires that Colby's son and his children be treated the same as any other child, regardless of their race. They should not receive any special treatment based on the color of their skin. And , the fact that this school district is buying into the idea that kids need to be treated differently based on race is really problematic.”
“We are calling on school districts to immediately reverse their discriminatory policies and adopt a color-blind approach to how they allocate resources, focusing on the needs of individual students. We are asking the school district to provide Colby's son with the resources he needs,” Brewer continued.
“There is no reason it would take him this long to gain that support. If the school district does not change its discriminatory policies, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty will pursue all legal avenues to protect Colby's son's rights.” I guess.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Green Bay Area School District for comment and received the following statement on Tuesday. “The school district received a letter from WILL yesterday and is investigating the allegations.
However, I can state unequivocally that the District does not have a policy that includes the language contained in the letter. ”
“All district policies must be approved by the school board, and no such policy language exists.”
The spokesperson added that the school success plan language is “designed to outline the school's goals for continuous improvement, but is not considered board (district) policy.” A spokesperson called this an “important difference.”
Decker told Fox News Digital that other parents she spoke to were “in disbelief” when informed of the situation, adding that every parent “just wants their child to be treated equally.” “I'm here,” he said.
“I know that whenever a parent or grandparent advocates for a child, they really want that child to be treated equally,” Decker said.
“And if someone is prioritized, that won't happen. If someone is prioritized above other people's priorities, then children should be a lower priority. And most of the American public I don’t think they want to move education forward.”
“I think everyone wants us to be completely color-blind and just see our kids as kids. My son's reading comprehension is in the 17th percentile in the state, but his There are children who are achieving at a high level, but they are prioritized just because of the color of their skin, and most parents don't want that to happen in their traditional education settings. I think so.”
