Group files complaint against Illinois school district for racial discrimination

[January 21, 2025]  By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Parents Defending Education filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education accusing Community Unit School District 308 in Oswego, Illinois, of race-based discrimination.

Caroline Moore, vice president of PDE, said the district allows only some students to participate in an affinity group called Black Student Alliance Buddies.

“Our hope is just that every kid who goes to public school has the same opportunities educationally and programmatically just because, I mean, that's the law,” said Moore. “Our hope is that they investigate and they say, ‘oh, gosh, you know, there is something going on in this district and the district needs to appeal to a wider audience,’ which is everyone, give everybody a mentor or the opportunity for a mentor or end the program.”

Moore said PDE found out about the alleged discrimination from a parent on social media.

“I like to file these if I see anything like that because while I think a lot of people think, ‘oh, gosh, you know, if I'm putting it on social media, it's raising awareness.’ It is, but that's not necessarily going to be investigated,” said Moore. “The proper protocol is to file it like this and then hopefully the school district will work with the Department of Ed and come to a resolution.”

The BSA Buddies program allows 4th grade and 5th grade students who identify as Black, biracial or African American to attend.

Moore said race-based affinity groups that involve field trips, tutoring or special classes can deprive some kids of having an enhanced educational experience.

“So the way I think of affinity groups is when I went to school, we had like the drama club or the German club, based on shared interests. But now it seems like in a lot of these schools, we've seen an uptick in these racial ones,” said Moore. “So it's only for kids of a particular race.”

Moore said some race-based affinity groups meet once a month at lunchtime just to hang out and talk, but the concerning groups that warrant Department of Education attention are the ones offering opportunities.

“I'm more concerned about the affinity groups where they have like, you know, special tutoring or mentorship opportunities just because I think every kid should – well, I mean it's the law that every kid should be able to do that,” said Moore. “This one, why it kind of piqued my interest, was because they do have a mentorship program with high school students. Every kid could benefit from that, at least the opportunity to have a mentor.”

PDE argues in the complaint that the district violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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