January 1, DOJ Targets Minnesota Schools On Race-Based Hiring

Wyatt’s Take

• The Justice Department is taking Minneapolis Public Schools to court for giving special treatment to non-white teachers.
• The lawsuit says this policy crosses the line, breaking the rules on equal treatment at work.
• There’s also concern about quotas and charter schools shaping up around incoming migrant groups.

The Justice Department has sued Minneapolis Public Schools for giving job perks and layoff protection to non-white teachers as part of their union contracts. Officials say this gives certain groups a boost at the expense of others, especially white teachers with more experience.

“Employers may not provide more favorable terms and conditions of employment based on an employee’s race and sex,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon.

The lawsuit also points out extra perks for non-white teachers involved in groups like “Black Men Teach Fellows,” which do not allow white or female teachers to join.

The school district aimed for at least 40% of its teachers to be black, indigenous, or people of color by 2026, and wants over half of new hires to be non-white.

“This preferential treatment is plainly discriminatory and unlawful,” the suit claims.

The Justice Department wants the court to declare these race-based rules illegal and stop the district from enforcing them.

The district’s policies show how far Minnesota schools have gone to support new migrant communities, especially Somali groups. Charter schools focused on cultural preservation are on the rise, with a large portion led by Somali leaders and catering nearly exclusively to Somali students.

Parents and leaders in these schools say their main concern is a safe place where culture, language, and religious traditions are kept, instead of traditional test scores.

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Wyatt Matters

Every teacher and worker deserves fair treatment, no matter their background. Policies that pick winners and losers based on race hurt communities and go against what most Americans believe is right.