Texas Attorney General Sues School District Over Alleged Critical Race Theory Instruction
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has filed a lawsuit against the Coppell Independent School District (ISD), located northwest of Dallas, alleging that the district is illegally teaching critical race theory (CRT) in its classrooms. The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Dallas County, accuses Coppell ISD of circumventing state laws that prohibit the teaching of specific concepts related to race and sex.
CRT, a framework that examines how societal structures and institutions perpetuate racial bias and systemic discrimination, has become a contentious issue in education across the United States. Critics argue that CRT promotes division and guilt based on race, while proponents maintain that it is essential for understanding and addressing historical and ongoing inequalities.
Paxton’s office initiated the lawsuit in response to a video featuring Coppell ISD Director of Curriculum Evan Whitfield discussing the district’s approach to navigating state regulations regarding CRT. According to the lawsuit, Whitfield suggested that the district had found ways to "get around" the prohibitions on CRT in state policies and curricula. The suit quotes Whitfield as stating that "despite what our state standards say," Coppell ISD does "what’s right."
The lawsuit alleges that Coppell ISD’s actions violate Texas law, which prohibits educators from teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another, or that an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive due to their race or sex. The law also restricts the use of the "1619 Project," a historical initiative by The New York Times that examines the role of slavery in the founding and development of the United States. Texas law forbids educators from teaching that any person bears responsibility, blame, or guilt for past actions due to their race or sex. The law also prohibits teachers from imposing the idea that meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or that the advent of slavery in America constituted the true founding of the United States, concepts commonly associated with the 1619 Project.
According to the suit, Whitfield "unequivocally stated that the policy of Coppell Independent School District is to teach curricula in violation of state law and direction, using funds and other resources of the district to develop and distribute for teaching CRT curricula." The lawsuit further alleges that Whitfield responded to a question about whether the district would be in trouble for violating the law by saying, "We’ve gotten around it by saying we’re not teaching it." The lawsuit alleges that "when asked if the teacher can just close the door and teach ‘what’s right,’ Whitfield responded, ‘Shh, that’s what we do.’"
Paxton is seeking a permanent injunction from the court to prevent Coppell ISD officials from teaching CRT and using taxpayer funds to distribute CRT materials. He advocates for the implementation of a "color blind" curriculum that aligns with Texas law.
This is not the first time Coppell ISD has faced accusations of illegally teaching CRT. In 2023, a North Texas family sued the district after their 10th-grade son, a student at New Tech High School in Coppell ISD, received a CRT-based assignment from his chemistry teacher. According to the Texas Scorecard, a conservative media outlet, the teacher instructed students to "research and write about diverse atomic theory scientists" and prohibited them from choosing an "old, dead, white guy."
Paxton asserts that "Texas children deserve to receive the best education in the world, not have woke ideology forced upon them." He added, "Liberal administrators who want to ignore state law and unlawfully push divisive and racist CRT curriculum in classrooms will be held responsible for their actions. My lawsuit aims to put an immediate end to this illegal and hateful curriculum and immediately stop the blatant refusal to follow state law by certain officials at Coppell ISD."
The lawsuit against Coppell ISD highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the role of race and identity in education. Supporters of CRT argue that it is essential for students to understand the historical and systemic factors that contribute to racial inequality. Critics, however, contend that CRT promotes division, guilt, and resentment based on race.
The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for education policy in Texas and beyond. If the court rules in favor of Paxton, it could set a precedent for further restrictions on the teaching of CRT and related concepts. Conversely, if the court sides with Coppell ISD, it could embolden other school districts to resist state efforts to regulate curriculum related to race and identity.
The case also underscores the broader political divisions surrounding education in the United States. As debates over curriculum, parental rights, and school choice intensify, the legal battle over CRT in Coppell ISD serves as a microcosm of the larger ideological struggles shaping the future of American education.
