June 17th, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is referring its investigation into the New York Department of Education (NYDE) and the New York State Board of Regents (the Board) for their unlawful attempt to ban mascots and logos that celebrate Native American history to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement. This action comes as the NYDE and the Board rejected the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR)’s proposed Resolution Agreement that would bring both entities into compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) by rescinding its prohibition on Native American mascots and logos.
“Both the New York Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal antidiscrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin. Both of these entities continue to disrespect the people of Massapequa by refusing to come into compliance with the Office for Civil Rights’ proposed agreement to rectify their violations of civil rights law,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “We will not allow New York state to silence the voices of Native Americans, and discriminatorily choose which history is acceptable to promote or erase.”
OCR issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to NYDE and the Board to voluntarily resolve their Title VI violations within 10 days or risk possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. The NYDE and the Board rejected the agreement in the first instance and again when OCR issued an impasse letter to them. The Resolution Agreement required these entities to rescind their prohibition on the use of Indigenous names and mascots and to issue a letter of apology to Indigenous tribes for attempting to erase Native American history.
Background:
On April 25, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened a Title VI investigation into NYDE and the Board amid allegations that the Board was violating federal antidiscrimination law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture.
On May 30, Secretary McMahon visited Massapequa High School to announce that OCR had concluded its investigation and determined that the Board violated Title VI by prohibiting names, mascots, and logos based on Native American race and national origin while appearing to allow those derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the 'Dutchmen' and the 'Huguenots.'
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin. back...
“Both the New York Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal antidiscrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin. Both of these entities continue to disrespect the people of Massapequa by refusing to come into compliance with the Office for Civil Rights’ proposed agreement to rectify their violations of civil rights law,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “We will not allow New York state to silence the voices of Native Americans, and discriminatorily choose which history is acceptable to promote or erase.”
OCR issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to NYDE and the Board to voluntarily resolve their Title VI violations within 10 days or risk possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. The NYDE and the Board rejected the agreement in the first instance and again when OCR issued an impasse letter to them. The Resolution Agreement required these entities to rescind their prohibition on the use of Indigenous names and mascots and to issue a letter of apology to Indigenous tribes for attempting to erase Native American history.
Background:
On April 25, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened a Title VI investigation into NYDE and the Board amid allegations that the Board was violating federal antidiscrimination law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture.
On May 30, Secretary McMahon visited Massapequa High School to announce that OCR had concluded its investigation and determined that the Board violated Title VI by prohibiting names, mascots, and logos based on Native American race and national origin while appearing to allow those derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the 'Dutchmen' and the 'Huguenots.'
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin. back...
