The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) over MPS’ collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with a teachers’ union, which gives preferences to teachers who are members of an “underrepresented population” in employment decisions and prioritizes “Black Men Teach Fellows” for certain employment benefits, terms, and conditions.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, notes that MPS seeks to increase their “BIPOC staffing . . . to at least 40% by 2026,” and that by 2026–2027, at least “54.3 %” of new teacher hires “identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”
MPS’ CBA classifies teachers for involuntary reassignment, layoff, and reinstatement depending on whether the teacher is a member of an “underrepresented population.” The United States’ complaint further alleges that MPS awards members of a third-party group, “Black Men Teach Fellows,” multiple benefits, terms, and conditions of employment that are not available to female or non-black teachers, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
The 21-page lawsuit names the Board of Directors of Special School District No. 1, the Minneapolis Public Schools, and Superintendent Lisa Syles-Adams as defendants.
“Discrimination is unacceptable in all forms, especially when it comes to hiring decisions,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our public education system in Minnesota and across the country must be a bastion of merit and equal opportunity — not DEI.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, notes that MPS seeks to increase their “BIPOC staffing . . . to at least 40% by 2026,” and that by 2026–2027, at least “54.3 %” of new teacher hires “identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”
“Employers may not provide more favorable terms and conditions of employment based on an employee’s race and sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will vigorously pursue employers who deny their employees equal opportunities and benefits by classifying and limiting them based on their race, color, national origin, or sex.”
Complaint - Us v Minneapolis Public Schools by scott.mcclallen
The complaint asks the court to declare that MPS discriminates against teachers on the basis of race, color, national origin, and sex, in violation of Title VII, and to enter a permanent injunction prohibiting MPS from implementing similar discriminatory provisions in any future CBA.
This case stems from an investigation launched by the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.