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This Office Was the Best Defense Against Discrimination in Schools. Trump Destroyed It.
Developing
In Short: The Trump administration froze active student civil rights investigations, weakening protections against discrimination in schools.
The Trump administration's actions have significantly weakened protections against discrimination in schools, according to a report by The Washington Post. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), a division of the Department of Education tasked with safeguarding the civil rights of students, has seen its effectiveness diminished.
Decades after the battles over legal school desegregation, students still face discrimination that hinders their ability to learn. The OCR had previously used easy-to-implement tools to resolve many civil rights issues without the need for full investigations.
One such tool was the OCR’s technical assistance program, which allowed the office to develop guidance that helped schools understand their obligations before disputes required formal enforcement.
The regional offices of the OCR used to offer on-site consultations and training to schools, advocates, administrators, districts, and states about their specific civil rights obligations. However, many of these functions have ceased under the current administration.
As the Biden administration was winding down, a student’s parents filed a complaint with the OCR, highlighting the ongoing need for robust civil rights protections in schools.
What's still developing
- The model allowed OCR to do more than answer individual questions: Guidance developed in response to one institution’s concerns helped schools across the country understand their obligations before a dispute required formal enforcement.
- While the OCR is still pursuing cases, the office has been flipped on its head —turned into a political weapon aimed at perceived threats to modern conservatism, reflected in its focus on investigating trans athletes or alleged racism against white students.