U.S. Justice Department Sues Minneapolis Public Schools Over Racial Preferences in Teacher Contract
- Steve Jurrens
- 1d
- 2 min read
The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) on December 10, 2025, alleging that the school district’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its teachers’ union utilizes discriminatory provisions based on race and sex. The lawsuit claims that the contract provisions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, targets contract language that allegedly favors teachers who are members of an “underrepresented population” in employment decisions regarding involuntary reassignment, layoff, and reinstatement. Court filings indicate that “underrepresented population" includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals.
The Justice Department also alleges that the CBA prioritizes "Black Men Teach Fellows," a third-party organization, for certain employment benefits, terms, and conditions not made available to female or non-Black teachers.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a strong statement regarding the filing, saying, “Discrimination is unacceptable in all forms, especially when it comes to hiring decisions. Our public education system in Minnesota and across the country must be a bastion of merit and equal opportunity — not DEI.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon echoed the sentiment, stating, “Employers may not provide more favorable terms and conditions of employment based on an employee’s race and sex. The Department of Justice will vigorously pursue employers who deny their employees equal opportunities and benefits by classifying and limiting them based on their race, color, national origin, or sex.”
The lawsuit notes that MPS has publicly stated goals to increase its "BIPOC staffing" to at least 40% by 2026, and to ensure that 54.3% of new teacher hires by 2026–2027 "identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).” The Justice Department is seeking a court declaration that MPS is violating Title VII and a permanent injunction to prevent the implementation of similar provisions in future collective bargaining agreements.
The case stems from an investigation launched by the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
