Federal officials have launched an investigation into the Ithaca City School District over allegations of racial discrimination at its Students of Color United Summit.
The complaint was first reported by The Ithaca Voice and filed by Cornell law professor William Jacobson. It claims past versions of the event excluded white students.
However, school leaders maintain that all students were invited to the 2024 summit and that the program supports inclusivity.
The investigation could jeopardize $1.7 million in federal aid primarily used to support disadvantaged students.
Jacobson, aligned with the Trump administration’s anti-DEI agenda, hopes for monetary penalties and independent oversight of ICSD’s non-discrimination policies.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].