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MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The federal government has opened an investigation into Wisconsin’s largest public school system after reports surfaced that the district considers race when disciplining students.
According to WISN, Milwaukee Public Schools was notified of the investigation earlier this week by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Under the now-Trump administration, officials are investigating whether the district is in violation of federal law, and the district responded to the warning with a statement that read, “This morning, we received the attached letter from the U.S. Department of Education. The notice does not contain the basis or prompting for the investigation. Once we receive more detail, we would be able to respond appropriately.”
The district previously agreed to look into resolving suspension and expulsion disparities in 2012 after data from the Department of Education under President Obama revealed that more than half of all students disciplined by the district were black.
According to the MacIver Institute, Milwaukee Public Schools has failed to comply with federal standards prohibiting public schools from engaging in DEI programs, as it is illegal for taxpayer-funded institutions to make decisions or exclude individuals from any type of job, program, or assistance based on race, sex, or religion. The institute further states that the district has allocated $1.5 million of its 2026-2027 budget to departments focusing on advancing DEI initiatives such as “Gender Identity & Inclusion,” “Restorative Practices,” and “Black and Latino Male Achievement.”
The Office for Civil Rights has the authority to conduct investigations based on complaints or internal compliance reviews. If federal officials find that MPS violated civil rights laws, the district may face penalties, including fines and an order to change its disciplinary procedures.
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