Federal civil rights complaint targets Cherry Creek School District's race-based hiring pledge

Defending Education submitted a federal civil-rights complaint on Monday, accusing Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) of violating Title VI by embedding racial preferences in its contract with the teachers’ union. The dispute stems from the district’s June 2023 "Educators of Color Declaration," which pledges to recruit, retain and promote educators of color while simultaneously asserting that hiring decisions must ignore race.

Critics say the dual language creates a de-facto quota system that disadvantages equally qualified non-minority teachers. The complaint urges the Office for Civil Rights to open an investigation, adding to a Department of Education inquiry launched in June over broader discriminatory conduct in the district. Defending Education cites Supreme Court precedent that federal programs must be color-blind. CCSD has not responded, and the Department of Education declined to confirm the filing.