The Merced City School District in California has contracted with the organization School Yard Rap for $270,000 to implement a rap-based curriculum, including a summer “Rap Camp” and an “African American Affinity Group.” This development has drawn scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice over potential race-based programming concerns.
Details of the School Yard Rap Program and District Performance
School Yard Rap’s curriculum integrates hip-hop elements such as songwriting, DJ-ing, and performances to convey lessons on history and culture. The organization, founded in 2016 and operating in 28 states, describes its approach as using music to create emotional connections with educational content.
Merced City School District has reportedly awarded over $610,000 in contracts to School Yard Rap. The district serves approximately 11,400 students with a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1. According to third-party data from Niche, only about 13% of students meet proficiency standards in math, highlighting persistent academic challenges.
Justice Department Response and Program Controversy
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division expressed concern about potential race-based benefits associated with the program. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated the government cannot offer benefits solely on the basis of race and characterized such practices as “troubling” if verified, though no formal investigation has been announced.
Brandon Brown, founder of School Yard Rap and a former teacher, defended the curriculum, emphasizing that the African American Affinity Camp is open to all students in grades 3 through 8 and described the criticism as politically motivated.
However, some content controversy has emerged, including a program called “Moor than a Month,” featuring lyrics that reference themes of racial identity and critique “white patriarchy.” This has further fueled debate over the curriculum’s appropriateness and compliance with federal standards.
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