The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) officially opened an investigation into Stanford University this past Wednesday.
Federal officials are looking into whether the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that prohibits any institution receiving federal funding from discriminating against individuals based on race, color, or national origin.
The investigation centers on a specific initiative within Stanford’s National Board Resource Center (NBRC). The program is designed to assist aspiring teachers in obtaining their National Board Certifications, but eligibility appears to be restricted to those who “identify as a person of color.”
The California Teachers Association, which partners with Stanford on the project, has publicly stated that the “BIPOC Cohort” exists to increase diversity among certified educators by providing selected candidates with full funding for all support services offered by the NBRC.
While the university and its partners framed the cohort as a way to bolster diversity in the workforce, federal regulators are questioning the legality of excluding applicants based on their racial background.
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“Instead of helping students achieve their goals through merit, Stanford appears to be conditioning access to National Board Certification programs based on skin color,” said Kimberly Richey, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. She characterized the allegations as a denial of opportunity based on race, adding, “If the allegations are true, Stanford is engaged in discrimination – pure and simple. The Trump Administration will always fight against discrimination to protect Americans’ rights under the law. All students, regardless of their skin color, should have an equal opportunity to succeed.”
Under Title VI, educational programs that receive federal tax dollars are strictly forbidden from separating or excluding participants based on race.
The OCR’s investigation will determine if the NBRC’s funding and support structure constitutes a “discriminatory operation.” Stanford has not yet issued a formal response regarding the specific details of the probe.
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