Highlights:
- The U.S. Department of Education has reopened a civil rights investigation into Evanston-Skokie School District 65.
- The probe stems from renewed allegations by teacher Dr. Stacy Deemar, supported by the conservative Southeastern Legal Foundation.
- Allegations include race-based programs, segregated affinity groups, and curriculum materials criticized for racial stereotyping.
- The Trump administration asserts these practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act; the district defends its diversity and equity initiatives.
- A previous complaint was dismissed under the Biden administration; however, the current administration has made revoking such diversity programs a top priority.
COOK COUNTY, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Education has launched a renewed civil rights investigation into Evanston-Skokie School District 65 over claims that its diversity and equity initiatives violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
The move revives allegations first raised in 2019 by district teacher Dr. Stacy Deemar and comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to curb what it calls unlawful race-based programming in public education.
The inquiry, announced Thursday by the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), is based on a formal complaint filed by Deemar with legal support from the conservative Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF).
At the core of the complaint are claims that the district enforced racially segregated practices and mandated programming that associates negative traits with “whiteness.”
Allegations of Discrimination and Segregation
Deemar and SLF allege that the district implemented policies such as “privilege walks,” affinity groups divided by race, and mandatory training that framed white cultural norms in a negative light. Among the materials cited is the book Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness, which, according to the complaint, was used to teach elementary students that whiteness is akin to a deal with the devil.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor called the allegations “shocking,” stating, “The Department of Education will not allow districts that receive federal funding to become safe spaces for racial segregation or any other unlawful discriminatory practices.”
The department has also warned the district that it could lose federal funding if found in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race-based discrimination in federally funded programs.
District 65 receives over $10 million annually from federal sources, which supports early childhood education, low-income programs, and special education.
District Response and Historical Context
In a statement to Evanston RoundTable, District 65 spokesperson Hannah Dillow confirmed receipt of the investigation notice and said the district “will continue to fulfill the intent and promise of equal protection and nondiscrimination.” She added that the complaint misrepresents “lawful and important” efforts to ensure all students receive quality education.
This isn’t the first time Deemar has challenged the district’s policies. Her initial complaint in 2019 led the Trump administration to find the district in violation of civil rights law. That finding was later rescinded under the Biden administration, which dismissed a 2021 federal lawsuit brought by Deemar. Judge John J. Tharp Jr. ruled that Deemar was not directly harmed by the district’s policies.
Still, with President Trump now back in office, Deemar has revived her complaint. “For the sake of our children and our country, the time to restore equality and reclaim civil liberties is now,” said SLF Executive Director Kimberly Hermann.
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Broader National Context
The investigation is part of a wider campaign by the Trump administration to challenge diversity and inclusion initiatives in schools and universities.
Earlier this year, the Department of Education warned schools they risk losing federal funding if found to support discriminatory DEI practices. This follows a series of probes into both antisemitism on college campuses and pro-Palestinian activism.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has shifted its civil rights priorities, drawing further scrutiny to the federal government’s changing stance on education and equity enforcement.
As the Evanston-Skokie case unfolds, it stands as a flashpoint in the national debate over how race is addressed in America’s classrooms.
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