An education watchdog group, Defending Education, has filed a new complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights alleging that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) continues to fund race-based programs exclusively for Black students. The complaint centers on LAUSD’s Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP), launched in 2021 to address educational disparities affecting Black students.
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Defending Education claims LAUSD allocated $50 million to BSAP for the 2025-2026 school year, adding to $125 million already spent on the program. According to the group, resources under BSAP, including staffing dedicated to the academic and social-emotional support of Black students, are distributed through a race-based tiered system.
A previous complaint filed by Defending Education in July 2023 was dismissed after LAUSD assured the Office of Civil Rights that the BSAP criteria had been changed to a race-neutral standard and that the program’s resources would be available to all students regardless of race. However, Defending Education points to a hot mic incident during the LAUSD Board meeting on October 22, 2024, where Board President Jackie Goldberg and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reportedly confirmed that “nothing has changed” in the program.
Defending Education cites this exchange as evidence that LAUSD misled federal authorities and alleged ongoing violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The group also highlights the recent $50 million budget increase for BSAP, bringing total funding to $175 million.
Erika Sanzi, senior communications director for Defending Education, said the new complaint aims to prompt a reevaluation of federal civil rights compliance in LAUSD’s race-based programming. LAUSD did not respond to requests for comment.
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