The Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into Portland Public Schools following a complaint that alleged the district engaged in unlawful racial discrimination by creating a Center for Black Student Excellence.
The inquiry, announced Tuesday, stems from a December complaint filed by Defending Education, a conservative national nonprofit group that challenges diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Washington Examiner first reported on the filing at the time, detailing allegations that the district was steering millions of taxpayer dollars into a race-focused program in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Constitution’s equal protection clause.
Discrimination disguised as ‘equity’ is discrimination.
ED is investigating Portland Public Schools for allegedly allocating tens of millions in academic interventions and support exclusively for black students, despite other student groups facing similar academic challenges.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) February 17, 2026
Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed the investigation Tuesday in a statement posted to X, writing that “discrimination disguised as ‘equity’ is discrimination.”
Defending Education asked the department’s Office for Civil Rights to examine the district’s decision to purchase a $16 million building and spend up to $25 million more to convert it into a hub for nonprofit partners offering enrichment programs intended to improve outcomes for black students.
“We are incredibly gratified” the department is investigating, Sarah Parshall Perry, the group’s vice president and legal fellow, said in a statement, arguing the district’s plan will advance learning for students of only one race.
Portland Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment about the investigation Wednesday. District leaders, however, have previously maintained that the center will not exclude students of other backgrounds.
In a December statement, district communications director Candice Grose said the project “represents our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, not just Black students,” adding that the effort is meant to address long-standing disparities while advancing success for every student.
The center, projected to open within 2 to 3 years, is planned for North Portland’s Albina area, historically home to the city’s black community. Officials say it will host after-school tutoring, summer programs, and partnerships with community-based organizations, including black-led nonprofit groups.
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT TARGETS PORTLAND’S $16 MILLION RACE-FOCUSED EDUCATION CENTER
Voters approved the project as part of a $1.2 billion school construction bond in 2020 that set aside roughly $60 million for the initiative’s capital costs. The district currently receives about $70 million in federal funding out of its approximately $2 billion annual budget.
The federal investigation comes as the Education Department has signaled a tougher stance on DEI programs using public funds. In December, McMahon praised moves to discontinue certain federal grants aimed at improving outcomes for specific student populations, part of a broader reassessment of DEI policies.