Chicago school officials aimed to close the academic achievement gap between Black students and their peers by launching the Black Student Success Plan, a program designed to support these students’ educational growth. However, what began as a well-intentioned effort unexpectedly spiraled into a federal investigation and became a flashpoint of resistance against the Trump administration’s policies. The district also faced the looming threat of losing crucial federal funding.
Across at least a dozen states, thousands of schools rejected President Trump’s assertion that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives violate federal civil rights laws. They defied his directive to dismantle such programs, instead continuing to offer resources and curricula that uplift disadvantaged groups and address racial and social justice.
On April 3, the U.S. Department of Education sent a memo to state education officials demanding the immediate end to any programs that grant advantages to students based on race or group identity. Schools were initially given ten days to comply, later extended to April 24, under threat of losing federal funds for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which prohibits race, color, and national origin discrimination in federally funded programs.
That deadline has long since passed. The Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights has launched investigations into numerous universities, including Harvard and Yale, and is now turning its attention to public schools serving younger students. This month, investigations were announced into DEI programs within Chicago Public Schools and Evanston-Skokie School District 65, both in Illinois.
Illinois officials join representatives from at least 19 other states who have resisted the Trump administration’s push to eliminate DEI initiatives. The standoff highlights a broader national conflict over the future of these programs.
In Chicago, a conservative group called Defending Education filed a formal complaint on February 21 with the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights, targeting the Black Student Success Plan. Nicole Neily, the group’s founder, criticized Chicago’s leadership for dedicating limited resources to select students based on race. She argued this approach unfairly denies opportunities to other students, despite evidence that all racial groups are struggling academically.
By April 29, the Department of Education confirmed it had launched an investigation into Chicago Public Schools, expressing concern over the alleged preferential treatment of students based on race. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Civil Rights, declared that federal funds must not be used to benefit only certain students unlawfully.
Chicago Public Schools declined to comment on the investigation but emphasized that the Black Student Success Plan is mandated by Illinois state law and embedded in the district’s five-year strategic plan.
Meanwhile, in Evanston-Skokie School District 65, another complaint came from the Southeastern Legal Foundation on behalf of teacher Stacy Deemar. She alleged the district’s training sessions promoted racial stereotypes and that affinity groups for students and staff were racially segregated, violating federal civil rights law.
District spokesperson Hannah Dillow disputed the claims, stating the programs are lawful and designed to ensure all students receive a high-quality education. She expressed hope for a fair and swift resolution with the Education Department.
Opposition to the Trump administration’s anti-DEI efforts has also found legal footing. On April 25, attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, Secretary Linda McMahon, and Trainor, labeling the directive unlawful and unconstitutional. The lawsuit argued that threatening to withdraw funding from schools that maintain DEI programs is an illegal attempt to enforce a political agenda.
The states warned that losing federal dollars—totaling over $13.8 billion nationwide—would devastate education systems, especially programs for special education students.
Despite the federal pressure, many states have refused to comply. New York officials explicitly rejected the Trump administration’s orders, affirming that no laws prohibit DEI principles. As a result, New York City Public Schools will continue their mandatory Black Studies curriculum.
Legal challenges have even secured temporary protections. In New Hampshire, federal judges barred the Education Department from cutting funds to schools that maintain DEI programming.
However, in states where compliance has been observed, schools have removed books addressing racial and social justice, cut LGBTQ+ support programs, and altered curricula. This has led to lawsuits from students and parents, including a case filed by the ACLU against the Department of Defense Education Activity, representing children of military families. The complaint alleges that schools are censoring materials about slavery, Native American history, LGBTQ+ identities, and other critical topics.
Parents like Natalie Tolley stress that students deserve access to diverse perspectives that reflect their lives and broaden their understanding of the world. She calls learning a sacred right that should not be restricted by political mandates.
As the fight over DEI programs continues, the balance between federal authority, state rights, and the educational needs of marginalized students remains uncertain—and fiercely contested.
