IOWA – The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation today into Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) to determine whether its employment practices discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to the DOJ, DMPS requires its teaching and learning staff to mirror student “demographics and cultural responsivity,” sets quotas to increase the number of “teachers of color,” and prioritizes “lifting up voices of our People of Color” in its retention strategy. The district also operates a “3D Coalition” recruitment program targeting aspiring minority teachers.
“DEI initiatives and race-based hiring preferences in our schools violate federal anti-discrimination laws and undermine educational priorities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “School districts must cease these unlawful programs and restore merit-based employment practices for the benefit of both students and employees.”
The investigation will evaluate whether these policies and practices comply with federal civil rights laws applicable to recipients of federal funding.
