TEANECK, New Jersey — School officials in a northern New Jersey district are facing an investigation from the U.S. Department of Education into possible discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
Teaneck Public Schools was added to the department’s Office of Civil Rights Title VI list of open investigations on Jan. 5, according to the department. Schools on the list, ranging from K-12 schools to universities, are being investigated for discrimination “involving shared ancestry,” the list says.
Teaneck township has been torn over a controversial Nov. 29, 2023, high school student walkout in support of Palestine, statements and handling of the walkout by the district superintendent and the region’s Board of Education’s subsequent handling of public speakers on the subject at meetings.
Connie Le, a director of outreach for Teaneck Public Schools, told USA TODAY that harassment or unfair treatment is not tolerated and that school officials investigate reports.
“All such matters are addressed appropriately,” Le said in a statement. “We do not tolerate any harassment, bullying, or intimidation and thoroughly investigate any reports of this type of behavior.”
The Education Department said it does not comment on pending investigations, so it’s unknown if the civil rights investigation concerns anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim or other civil rights violations at Teaneck schools.
More than 40 schools under investigation
Nationwide, civil rights investigations into possible shared…
