U.S. Department of Education Probes Louisiana Board of Regents Over Alleged Race-Based Priority in Executive Budget

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) initiated a directed investigation into the Louisiana Board of Regents (the Board) to determine whether its Master Plan for Higher Education violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by authorizing racially-exclusionary practices and initiatives.

According to public records, since Fiscal Year (FY) 2021–2022 and again in FY 2025–2026, the Board’s executive budgets have included performance objectives requiring schools to prioritize students of “all races other than white [and] Asian.” Specifically, the Board’s stated goal is to “increase the unduplicated number of underrepresented minorities (all races other than white, Asian)” earning a degree or credential “in a given academic year.” The current objective sets a target to raise matriculation and graduation of “all races other than white, Asian” from a baseline of 14,579 in 2020–21 to 16,000 in Academic Year 2025–26.

“The Louisiana Board of Regents’ objective to prioritize recruitment and graduation efforts for ‘all races other than white [and] Asian’ appears to blatantly violate not only America’s antidiscrimination laws, but our nation’s core principles. Title VI guarantees all students equal access to educational programs and opportunities regardless of race and OCR is committed to preserving these rights,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “OCR will fully enforce Title VI to ensure our education programs are defined by equality, not exclusion.

Background

Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in education programs and activities receiving federal funding. 

Fonte:https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-probes-louisiana-board-of-regents-over-alleged-race-based-priority-executive-budget