May 9th 2024.
The U.S. Department of Education has recently taken action in response to four students who filed civil rights complaints against the Carroll Independent School District. These complaints were initially brushed aside by the district's lawyers, but the agency has now reached out to begin negotiations for a resolution agreement. The four students, who have since graduated or left the district, reported experiencing racism and homophobia during their time at Carroll schools.
One student even faced retaliation after reporting racial harassment to school administrators, and another was so severely bullied for their sexual orientation that they had suicidal thoughts. Sadly, their families claim that the district did nothing to address the situation. In light of these troubling allegations, the Office of Civil Rights department revealed that members of the Cultural & Racial Equity for Every Dragon and the Southlake Anti-Racism Coalition have expressed their concerns about the emotional and mental toll these incidents have taken on students. These groups, consisting of Black parents and former students, are pushing for the district to be held accountable for their actions.
Terrance Jones, one of the complainants, expressed his relief that Carroll may finally be forced to address the mistreatment of students of color. However, he also wishes that this had happened while he was still attending school there. Angela Jones, a Black mother and advocate, has been fighting for change within the district for years. Her own child was a victim of discrimination and she has faced ridicule from the school board and conservative parents for pushing for protections for minority students. She believes that the agency's involvement will finally bring about much-needed changes.
The allegations first came to light in 2018 when a video of white high school students shouting racial slurs went viral. In response, a committee was formed to address the issue, with Angela Jones as a member. This led to the development of the Cultural Competence Action Plan, which included mandatory diversity training for teachers and students, as well as changes to the student handbook to ban harassment based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. However, conservative parents and activists formed a political action committee to oppose this plan, claiming it went against their "Judeo-Christian values." They even won majority control of the school board in November 2021, thanks to their large financial support and negative campaigning against their opponents.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is pleased to see that the Office of Civil Rights has recognized the civil rights violations at Carroll ISD schools. Assistant Counsel Katrina Feldkamp hopes that this will finally lead to the necessary changes to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students. After three long years, they are hopeful that the resolution negotiation period will result in the adoption of the policy changes that have been demanded by groups such as CREED, SARC, and Southlake Families PAC. It is time for the district to take responsibility and make meaningful changes to ensure the well-being and rights of all students.
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