LA schools try again to balance support for Black students while avoiding race-based rules

In April, a conservative group filed a second civil rights complaint against a Los Angeles school program designed for Black students, claiming the district still gives race-based advantages despite saying it ended that practice. The U. S. Department of Education’s civil rights office recently agreed to investigate this new complaint, despite previously closing a similar case last year when LA schools claimed they had removed race as a factor in who gets extra help. The program in question, started in 2021, once focused only on Black students—who make up just 7% of the district’s enrollment—by adding counselors, social workers, and updated teaching materials just for them. After the first complaint, the district scrambled to change the rules, saying it would now help any student facing similar academic struggles, regardless of race. But critics argue the new approach waters down the original goal, while supporters say keeping the program’s name and some of its structure shows the district hasn’t fully backed away from its original purpose.Federal officials had already warned LA schools that race-based programs became risky after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling banned colleges from considering race in admissions. The district dodged a legal bullet last year when the civil rights office closed the first complaint after LA schools promised to open the program to all students in need. Still, the conservative group pushing these complaints insists the district is just hiding discrimination behind new language. A recording from a 2024 school board meeting adds fuel to the fire. During the meeting, some students chanted, “Put the Black back in BSAP, ” while a former board member and the superintendent defended the changes. The superintendent argued that keeping strict racial limits could backfire, risking funding and legal trouble. Meanwhile, the conservative group insists the district is misleading the public, pointing to continued focus on Black students despite the name changes. The district insists it follows all laws and offers support to students of all backgrounds. Still, the debate raises questions about how far schools should go to address racial gaps without crossing legal lines.