Trump Admin Investigates CPS Black Students Success Plan Title VI

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Why the Black Students Success Plan Matters

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) created the Black Students Success Plan because our kids need targeted help. Unveiled in February 2025, this plan wasn’t just an idea CPS dreamed up; it followed a state law, Illinois Public Act 103-0584 (ABC7 Chicago). The law demanded a clear path for Black students to reach the same academic levels as their classmates.

The need is real. Black students make up 35% of CPS, but face serious hurdles. They get suspended way more often and don’t perform as well academically compared to others (ABC7 Chicago). Therefore, the plan sets ambitious five-year goals. These include doubling the number of Black male teachers, cutting out-of-school suspensions for Black students by 40%, and bringing in culturally relevant lessons that fight anti-Blackness (ABC7 Chicago). CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova stated the district wants to remove these obstacles with fair resources and partnerships, including with HBCUs. Furthermore, the plan also focuses on mental health and community input, shaped by talks with over 60 parents, teachers, and students (ABC7 Chicago).

Federal Investigation Clouds CPS Equity Efforts

Now, the plan faces a major hurdle: a federal investigation. On April 29, 2025, the Trump administration’s Department of Education, specifically the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), started looking into it (ABC7 Chicago; US Department of Education investigating Chicago Public Schools…). This happened because a conservative group called Defending Education filed a complaint (ABC7 Chicago). They claim the plan breaks Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Their argument is that the Black Students Success Plan unfairly gives resources only to Black students, even though CPS knows students of all races struggle (ABC7 Chicago; AfroTech). Craig Trainor, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, echoed this. He criticized CPS for using race-specific fixes instead of helping all students district-wide. Subsequently, he declared the Trump Administration would ensure all students get treated equally under the law (ABC7 Chicago). This investigation clearly aligns with the Trump administration’s broader push against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives (US Department of Education investigating Chicago Public Schools…).

Understanding Title VI Discrimination Claims

The core of the complaint rests on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This important law forbids discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program getting federal money (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Department of Justice; The Facts on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 | US EPA). It covers intentional discrimination but also policies that unintentionally harm certain groups (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Department of Justice). Schools, state agencies, and federal contractors must follow it. They even need to take proactive steps to fix disparities (The Facts on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 | US EPA).

However, supporters of the CPS plan argue it doesn’t violate Title VI. Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, explained the plan aims to help Black students succeed, not to exclude anyone else (ABC7 Chicago). The goal is to address specific, documented historical disadvantages faced by Black students in Chicago, like redlining and underfunded schools (ABC7 Chicago). Moreover, the legal ground is shaky for the administration’s anti-DEI push. A federal judge in New Hampshire recently blocked the Department of Education from dismantling diversity programs (ABC7 Chicago). Illinois State Superintendent Tony Sanders also questioned if the federal government can just reinterpret Title VI this way without proper procedures (ABC7 Chicago).

Community Rallies Behind DEI in Public Schools

Our community is pushing back hard against this investigation. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, a Black mother and teacher herself, called it “baseless” (ABC7 Chicago). She sees it as an attack aimed at undermining public schools and hurting the children, particularly Black children (ABC7 Chicago). Gates pointed out the decades of neglect and lack of investment in Chicago’s majority-Black neighborhoods, connecting the plan to the larger fight for racial justice (ABC7 Chicago).

This plan didn’t come out of nowhere; it grew from the community. Natasha Erskine, a community organizer, emphasized that it reflects years of parents organizing and demanding change (ABC7 Chicago). Conversely, groups like Defending Education, the ones who filed the complaint, see it differently. They frame programs like this as “political indoctrination” and have sued other districts, like Los Angeles, over similar initiatives (ABC7 Chicago; AfroTech). This fight in Chicago clearly mirrors a national battle over DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in schools (AfroTech; The Washington Times).

Trump Education Policy and the “Colorblind” Clash

This investigation is a clear example of the Trump administration’s approach to education and civil rights. They’ve actively targeted DEI initiatives, often arguing these programs are divisive (A look at what DEI means amid Trump executive orders – ABC News; Trump Executive Orders Target DEI in Government and Private Sector). In 2025, Trump issued executive orders aiming to get rid of federal DEI offices and funding, pushing private companies to do the same (A look at what DEI means amid Trump executive orders – ABC News). The administration claimed DEI fuels hostility and division by focusing on group identity instead of individual merit (Trump Executive Orders Target DEI in Government and Private Sector).

This ties into a “colorblind” interpretation of civil rights. This view argues that the law, including Title VI, demands we ignore race entirely, even when trying to fix past discrimination (Constitutional colorblindness – Wikipedia). Supporters believe this prevents “reverse discrimination.” However, critics, including many in the Black community, argue this approach is harmful because it ignores the real, ongoing impact of systemic racism (Definitions & Concepts – Division of Equity and Inclusion; The Hazards of “Colorblind Equality” – Mises Institute). It pretends race doesn’t matter in a country where historical injustices like redlining and unequal school funding created deep disadvantages for Black people (ABC7 Chicago). Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions reflects this colorblind thinking (ABC7 Chicago; Constitutional colorblindness – Wikipedia), setting a precedent the Department of Education is now applying to K-12 schools.

What’s Next for CPS and Black Students?

This investigation puts CPS in a tough spot. The district developed the Black Students Success Plan based on data showing clear needs and input from the community most affected (ABC7 Chicago). The goals, like boosting Black teacher numbers and reducing suspensions, are designed for measurable progress (ABC7 Chicago). Yet, the threat of losing federal funds is serious.

About $1 billion, or 8% of CPS’s budget, is potentially on the line (Fox 32 Chicago; ABC7 Chicago). This money supports essential services, particularly for vulnerable students. While the investigation just started in April 2025, these Title VI cases can drag on for months or years (US Department of Education investigating Chicago Public Schools…; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Department of Justice). Meanwhile, the future of a plan designed specifically to uplift Black students hangs in the balance. This situation perfectly illustrates the clash between efforts to achieve real equity and interpretations of civil rights law that demand ignoring race altogether. Consequently, how CPS navigates this will impact not only Chicago’s Black students but potentially set precedents for schools across the country facing similar challenges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.

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