The 1776 Project Foundation filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Los Angeles schools policy intended to address segregation, alleging that the policy discriminates against white students. The challenge comes as Trump administration officials push to overturn decades-old desegregation court orders.
The lawsuit targets a school district policy rooted in 1970 and 1976 court orders requiring desegregation.
The Policy Under Challenge
The Los Angeles Unified School District policy provides smaller class sizes and additional benefits to schools with predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, or other non-white student populations. The benefits include extra points when applying to magnet schools, required parent-teacher conferences twice per year, and lower student-teacher ratios—25-to-1 or less, compared to the 34-to-1 ratio permitted at other schools, according to court documents.
More than 600 schools in the Los Angeles district are classified as having predominantly non-white student populations, while fewer than 100 are not, according to the lawsuit.
The Lawsuit’s Claims
The 1776 Project Foundation alleges the policy violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction preventing the district from using “race preferences” in operating, funding, or admitting students to school programs.
One of the plaintiffs is a parent whose children attend a school not classified as having predominantly non-white students. That parent alleges the children were denied certain benefits, including admission to a magnet program, because of the district’s policy.
A Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson said the district was unable to comment on the specifics of the pending litigation. The district provided a statement saying it “remains firmly committed to ensuring all students have meaningful access to services and enriching educational opportunities.”
The Foundation Behind the Challenge
The 1776 Project Foundation, created by the 1776 Project PAC, is explicitly focused on opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in schools. According to its website, the foundation’s mission is to promote academic achievement and “revitalize our educational system” by supporting school board candidates and pushing back against what it calls “progressive pedagogy.”
The Broader Desegregation Fight
Trump administration officials have simultaneously pushed for an end to civil rights-era school desegregation court orders, calling them obsolete and unnecessary. Civil rights organizations, by contrast, say the court orders remain vital tools for addressing the legacy of forced segregation and ongoing disparities in student discipline, academic programs, and teacher hiring.