Trump administration looks to join suit alleging LAUSD discriminates against white students
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The U.S.Department of Justice is seeking to join a federal lawsuit accusing the Los Angeles school district of discriminating against white students.At issue is a long-running effort to help disadvantaged students of color in Los Angeles by providing somewhat smaller classes to the vast majority of schools — leaving out campuses with larger numbers of white students.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in January by 1776 Project Foundation, targets a decades-old effort to combat the harms of segregation without requiring families to attend integrated schools.
The nation’s second-largest school district is acting illegally under both the California and the federal Constitution, the suit alleges.The Justice Department agrees and wants to participate in the litigation because “the United States Attorney General has reviewed this action and determined it is a case of general public importance,” according to the court petition filed Wednesday.“This case will provide relief to the Plaintiff’s members but will also relieve the entire LAUSD student population of the ‘injury’ of ‘being forced to compete in a race-based system that may prejudice the(m).’” California Newly approved job cuts at LAUSD will start at the central office but will affect schools through a reduction in services.
Unions challenged the need for cuts.Assistant Atty.Gen.
Harmeet K.Dhillon of the department’s Civil Rights Division was among several Trump administration officials who commented in a news release.
“Los Angeles County students should never be classified or treated differently because of their race.Yet this school district is doing exactly that by providing benefits that treat students — based on their race — as though they have learning disabilities,” Dhillon said.
“Racial discrimination is unlawful and un-American, and this Civil Rights Division will fight to ensure t...