ED Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into Stanford

The Department of Education launched its latest college civil rights investigation Wednesday—this time regarding Stanford University. 

The investigation is based on allegations that access to the institution’s National Board Resource Center, a program that helps aspiring teachers achieve the highest level of certification, is based on skin color and not merit. The department argues that such selection criteria violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

“It is unconscionable that an institution which claims to be a pinnacle of educational excellence would deny opportunities based on race. If the allegations are true, Stanford is engaged in discrimination—pure and simple,” the department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, Kimberly Richey, said in a news release about the investigation.