Minnesota"s Teachers of Color scholarship faces discrimination complaint

In 2021, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz approved a law establishing the Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship program, aimed at increasing the representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the state's teaching workforce. The program offers scholarships of up to $25,000 to students who demonstrate financial need and belong to these groups. However, a civil rights complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project (EPP) claims that the program discriminates against white students, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EPP argues that the scholarship's racial restrictions constitute blatant bias, regardless of the program's intentions. They assert that all students should be treated equally, without regard to race or skin color, and call for Governor Walz to end this perceived discrimination. The complaint references a recent US Supreme Court ruling that deemed race-based affirmative action programs unconstitutional, suggesting that the Minnesota scholarship may be legally vulnerable. Since its inception, over 200 students have benefited from the scholarship, with the majority being black, Hispanic, or Asian. The EPP has previously challenged similar racial preference programs in other states and institutions, indicating a broader trend of scrutiny regarding such initiatives. The governor's office has not yet received any formal complaints about the program and has refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations. This situation highlights the ongoing debate over affirmative action and race-based scholarship programs in education, raising questions about equity, representation, and the legal implications of such initiatives in Minnesota and beyond.