Trump administration investigating Providence schools over ‘educator of color' loan forgiveness program
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The investigation comes as the Trump administration has been cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, accusing both K-12 and higher education institutions of discrimination because of using racial preferences in their hiring practices or in access to educational opportunities.
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The US Department of Education has accused
The website for the Providence program, entitled the
The Providence school system has long been criticized for its lopsided racial makeup; roughly 73 percent of teachers are white, compared to just 8 percent of the district's students, according to the most recent R.I. Department of Education data.
The vast majority of Providence students are Hispanic, at 68 percent, followed by 14 percent Black.
One of the goals of the state takeover of the city schools, which began in 2019, was to
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The Rhode Island Foundation touted the importance of that goal when the program launched.
'The benefits of a diverse faculty are well documented,' Neil Steinberg, the former head of the nonprofit, said in a news release in 2021. 'Students can be inspired in new ways when their classrooms include role models who look like them.'
The letter from the DOJ says the federal government has not reached any conclusions yet, but is investigating whether or not the district is 'engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination.'
Hector Ruiz Jr., the DOJ employment attorney investigating the case, declined to comment, referring the Globe to the media relations team, which did not immediately respond.
In a letter to the Providence School Board on Sunday notifying them of the investigation, Superintendent Javier Montañez said the student loan program has a 'direct, positive impact on student outcomes as demonstrated by years of educational research.'
'The diversity of our community is a tremendous asset, and we deeply value and support the variety of cultures and identities of our students as well as our staff members,' Montañez said.
He pointed to
He said the school district is an 'equal educational employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, color, disability, or veteran status.'
The district's lawyers will cooperate with the DOJ on the investigation, Montañez said.
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Suzanne Ouellette, a spokesperson for the district, said, 'We remain committed in our efforts to recruit and retain a teaching population that reflects the diverse community we serve.'
She declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal matter.
Steph Machado can be reached at
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