{"id":2571083,"date":"2026-02-18T13:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portlands-black-student-excellence-center-under-title-vi-investigation\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:27:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:27:37","slug":"portlands-black-student-excellence-center-under-title-vi-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portlands-black-student-excellence-center-under-title-vi-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland&#8217;s Black Student Excellence center under Title VI investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fportlands-black-student-excellence-center-under-title-vi-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571083&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh U.S.Department of Education has launched a civil rights inquiry into Portland Public Schools over its center for Black Student Excellence, following a December complaint by the Defending Education group alleging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amazon-faces-suit-over-10k-offer-made-exclusively-to-black-latinx-and-native-american-entrepreneurs\/\" title=\"Amazon Faces Suit Over k Offer Made Exclusively to \u2018Black, Latinx, and Native American Entrepreneurs\u2019\">unlawful racial discrimination<\/a> and improper use of funds for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/inside-the-woke-meltdown-at-one-domestic-violence-organization\/\" title=\"Inside the Woke Meltdown at One Domestic Violence Organization\">race-focused program<\/a>. The inquiry centers on whether the district\u2019s plan\u2014include purchasing a $16 million building and spending up to $25 million more to convert it into a hub offering after-school tutoring, summer programs, and partnerships with Black-led organizations\u2014advances one race in violation of Title VI and the Constitution\u2019s equal protection clause. The center, planned for North Portland\u2019s Albina area and funded in part by a 2020 $1.2 billion school construction bond, is claimed by the district to benefit all students and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-rejects-virginia-suit-over-race-in-high-school-admission-policy\/\" title=\"Supreme Court dismisses Virginia case on ... in high school admissions\">address long-standing disparities<\/a>. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the investigation, saying that \u201cdiscrimination disguised as equity is discrimination,\u201d as the department signals a tougher stance on DEI programs using federal funds. The case comes amid broader scrutiny of DEI initiatives in public education and the use of federal funding to support such programs.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump administration investigating Portland&rsquo;s &lsquo;Black Student Excellence&rsquo; center<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2479107\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-education\/\">Department of Education<\/a> opened a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-announces-investigation-into-andrew-brown-jr-shooting\/\" title=\"FBI Announces ... Into Andrew Brown Jr. Shooting\">civil rights investigation<\/a> into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/portland\/\">Portland Public Schools<\/a> following a complaint that alleged the district engaged in unlawful racial discrimination by creating a Center for Black Student Excellence.<\/p>\n<p>The inquiry, announced Tuesday, stems from a December complaint filed by Defending Education, a conservative national nonprofit group that challenges <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dei\/\">diversity, equity, and inclusion<\/a> initiatives. The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3920092\/civil-rights-complaint-portland-black-education-center\/\">first reported<\/a> on the filing at the time, detailing allegations that the district was steering millions of taxpayer dollars into a race-focused program in violation of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/title-vi\/\">Title VI<\/a> of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Civil+rights+site%3Awashingtonexaminer.com&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8\">Civil Rights Act<\/a> and the Constitution&rsquo;s equal protection clause.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4457994\/education-department-investigation-louisiana-race-based-higher-education-budget\/\">Education Department launches investigation into Louisiana&rsquo;s &lsquo;race-based&rsquo; higher education budget<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4454935\/qatar-china-top-foreign-spenders-american-universities\/\">Qatar and China revealed as top foreign spenders on American universities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Discrimination disguised as &lsquo;equity&rsquo; is discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>ED is investigating Portland Public Schools for allegedly allocating tens of millions in academic interventions and support exclusively for black students, despite other student groups facing similar academic challenges.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EDSecMcMahon\/status\/2023859373513318872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Education Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/linda-mcmahon\/\">Linda McMahon<\/a> confirmed the investigation Tuesday in a statement posted to X, writing that &ldquo;discrimination disguised as &lsquo;equity&rsquo; is discrimination.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Defending Education asked the department&rsquo;s Office for Civil Rights to examine the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.koin.com\/news\/portland\/pps-board-buy-property-center-for-black-student-excellence\/\">district&rsquo;s decision to purchase a $16 million<\/a> building and spend up to $25 million more to convert it into a hub for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nonprofit partners offering enrichment programs intended<\/a> to improve outcomes for black students.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are incredibly gratified&rdquo; the department is investigating, Sarah Parshall Perry, the group&rsquo;s vice president and legal fellow, said in a statement, arguing the district&rsquo;s plan will advance learning for students of only one race.<\/p>\n<p>Portland Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment about the investigation Wednesday. District leaders, however, have previously maintained that the center will not exclude students of other backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>In a December statement, district communications director Candice Grose said the project &ldquo;represents our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, not just Black students,&rdquo; adding that the effort is meant to address long-standing disparities while advancing success for every student.<\/p>\n<p>The center, projected to open within 2 to 3 years, is planned for North Portland&rsquo;s Albina area, historically home to the city&rsquo;s black community. Officials say it will host after-school tutoring, summer programs, and partnerships with community-based organizations, including black-led nonprofit groups.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3920092\/civil-rights-complaint-portland-black-education-center\/\">FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT TARGETS PORTLAND&rsquo;S $16 MILLION RACE-FOCUSED EDUCATION CENTER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Voters approved the project as part of a $1.2 billion school construction bond in 2020 that set aside roughly $60 million for the initiative&rsquo;s capital costs. The district currently receives about $70 million in federal funding out of its approximately $2 billion annual budget.<\/p>\n<p>The federal investigation comes as the Education Department has signaled a tougher stance on DEI programs using public funds. In December, McMahon praised moves to discontinue certain federal grants aimed at improving outcomes for specific student populations, part of a broader reassessment of DEI policies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOE probes Portland&#8217;s Black Student Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2571084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP24096822092814.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[74032,74033,53072,3619,74031],"class_list":["post-2571083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-blackstudentexcellence","tag-campusinvestigation","tag-educationpolicy","tag-portland","tag-titlevi"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP24096822092814.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571083"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571087,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571083\/revisions\/2571087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}