Oakland schools in hot seat over 'students of color' program while taking millions in federal funding

FIRST ON FOX — The (OUSD) is in the hot seat over a federally funded "Latinx Mentoring and Achievement Program" that allegedly excludes White students from receiving academic support, mentorship and cash incentives.

Parents Defending Education (PDE), a national educational rights group, filed a federal civil rights complaint against the district alleging that its Latino Men & Boys (LMB) and Latina Mentoring & Achievement (LMA) programs violate Title VI and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.

"The Supreme Court has recognized only two compelling interests that permit resort to race-based government action: first, 'remediating specific identified instances of past discrimination that violated the Constitution or a statute,' and second, 'avoiding imminent and serious risks to human safety in prisons, such as a race riot,'" the complaint, sent exclusively to Fox News Digital, states.

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The initiative, nationally recognized by The Obama Foundation, is listed under OUSDs "Community Partners" webpage and operates in conjunction with The Unity Council — an Oakland-based organization that claims to promote "social equity and enhancing quality of life by creating vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive."

According to The Unity Councils website, the initiatives "are school-based, culturally rooted programs located in selected schools in the Oakland Unified School District." The original LMB program was later expanded to create the LMA program following initial outreach.

"The programs work with Latinx youth ages 12–18 and their families and schools to improve outcomes in mental and physical health, , and career planning," The Unity Council's site states. "The program significantly increases graduation rates for Latinx youth in Oakland schools and promotes healthy lifestyles, academic focus and leadership development. The program is available for male-identified, female-identified, and non-binary youth."

However, PDEs civil rights complaint alleges that because OUSD receives millions in federal financial assistance, offering racially exclusive perks through third-party partners breaches federal nondiscrimination laws.

The complaint further details that the LMB initiative grants direct financial payouts to participating students.

"During the 2024-2025 school year, the Unity Council distributed roughly $3,000 in milestones and stipends to minority students through the LMB program," the complaint states. "This is important because the LMB program discriminates against students based on race. For example, OUSDs 2022-2023 service agreement with the Unity Council says that the LMB program is offered to Latino males and other students of color and their families. OUSDs 2024-2025 service agreement likewise states that the LMB program is meant for approximately two hundred Latino young men and their families."

"In other words, OUSD pays the Unity Council to run a program that gives tutoring, mentoring, health and wellness programs, and even cash to male minority students — specifically male Latino students," PDE argues in its filing. "But the LMB program does not include White students. Nor does OUSD offer any other similar support program for White OUSD students. Because the program denies these ben