Parents, Take Note: Schools Can No Longer Discriminate Based on Race
For years, parents have voiced concerns about how racial preferences and so-called Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies have led to discrimination in schools. Many of us have watched as race-conscious admissions, segregated graduations, and discriminatory scholarship programs pushed our children into an unfair system where skin color mattered more than character and merit.
Now, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made it clear: this stops now.
In a new official letter issued on February 14, 2025, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights reaffirmed that racial discrimination in education is illegal—whether it’s against white, Asian, black, or Hispanic students. Schools that continue to use race in admissions, scholarships, hiring, or student programs will face consequences, including losing federal funding.
What This Means for Your Child
The Department of Education’s letter explains that racial discrimination has become widespread in schools, particularly against white and Asian students from working-class families. It points out that many schools have:
✅ Used race as a factor in admissions and financial aid
✅ Separated students by race at events like graduations and housing
✅ Given preferential treatment to students of certain racial groups
✅ Promoted the false idea that America is inherently “structurally racist”
This follows the landmark 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which ruled that racial preferences in college admissions violate the Constitution. The Department of Education is now extending that ruling to ALL educational institutions that receive federal funding—from K-12 schools to universities.
Schools Must End These Practices or Lose Funding
The letter orders all schools to:
Stop using race in admissions, hiring, scholarships, and promotions
Eliminate race-based segregation in graduation ceremonies, housing, and student groups
End race-conscious financial aid programs
Cease using essays, extracurricular activities, or “diversity statements” as a proxy for racial preferences
Eliminate DEI programs that give special treatment based on race
Failure to comply will mean loss of federal funding and potential legal action.
What You Can Do: Filing an OCR Complaint Against Your Child’s School
If you believe your child’s school is discriminating based on race, you have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
What Is OCR?
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the federal agency responsible for enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in education. Schools that receive federal financial assistance must follow these laws—or risk consequences.
How to File an OCR Complaint
OCR allows anyone—parents, students, or concerned citizens—to file a complaint if a school engages in racial discrimination. The process is straightforward:
1️⃣ Gather Evidence – Document specific instances of discrimination, including policies, emails, or school statements.
2️⃣ Complete the Complaint Form – You can submit a complaint online at OCR’s website or download a PDF complaint form to mail.
3️⃣ Submit Your Complaint – You can file online, by mail, or by email. The complaint should include:
Name of the school
Specific actions taken by the school that are discriminatory
How these actions negatively impacted your child
Any supporting evidence
4️⃣ OCR Investigation – If OCR accepts your complaint, they investigate the school. If the school is found guilty of racial discrimination, they must change their policies or risk losing federal funding.
Example: Filing a Complaint Against Race-Based Scholarship Policies
Imagine your child applies for a merit-based scholarship but is told that only students of a certain racial background qualify. This is a violation of Title VI because it discriminates based on race.
Sample OCR Complaint:
Complainant: [Your Name]
School Name: [School or University Name]
Date of Incident: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Description:
“My child, [Child’s Name], applied for [Scholarship Name] at [School Name]. However, they were told that they were ineligible solely because of their race. The scholarship was only open to students of [Another Race], violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This is race-based discrimination, and I am requesting OCR to investigate this matter and enforce federal law.”
By submitting this complaint, OCR will launch an investigation, and the school could be forced to change its policy or risk losing federal funding.
The Bottom Line: Parents Must Hold Schools Accountable
For too long, parents have been told that discriminatory policies were necessary for “equity”. But equity is not equality—and no child should face discrimination because of their race.
The Department of Education has spoken: Schools must follow the law, or they will pay the price. If you see racial discrimination in your child’s school, take action—file an OCR complaint, speak out, and demand change.
Your child’s future should be based on merit, not skin color.
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