Defying a federal administrative complaint, alleging race-based discrimination, the Chicago Board of Education is reopening applications calling for community members to serve on the Black Student Achievement Committee.
Parents Defending Education, a national anti-DEI organization, filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Education citing Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment violations alleging “… discrimination on the basis of race in and political indoctrination in America’s schools,” by Chicago Public Schools, which receives federal funding.
If a ruling against the Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Plan’s implementation, monitoring and reporting on specific targeted strategies is upheld, race specific strategies like hiring Black teachers for Black students could be put at risk, according to Educators for Excellence’s website.
Despite PDE’s ongoing legal maneuvering, Chicago Public Schools is moving forward with the BSSP- mandated committee under codified Illinois state law 105 ILCS 5/34 -18.85.
The BSSP’s purpose is to enhance equity and equality across the education of Black students’ primary and secondary level experience, specifically regarding immediate action and long-term success over the next five years.
The BSAC’s purpose is to help the Board shape educational policies drawn up in Feb., 2025. The committee will also improve Black student success rates by eliminating educational disparities and outcomes for primary and secondary students.
Additional committee duties are to provide oversight, policy guidance and accountability to the Board.
CBOE’s reopened application window seeks to seat 14 community members on the BSAC in early 2026.
Applications for 14 BSAC committee seats will reopen beginning Monday, Feb. 2, at 9 a.m. and will close Feb. 9 at 5 p.m.