State governments across the country are establishing new civil rights offices to investigate school discrimination cases as federal oversight diminishes. Pennsylvania families dealing with racial bullying complaints say their federal cases have stalled, prompting lawmakers to propose state-level alternatives.
WASHINGTON — Black students in a predominantly white Pennsylvania school district faced constant harassment, with classmates calling them derogatory names including “slave” and “monkey” with little consequence, according to parents who filed a federal complaint.
These allegations were part of a 2024 civil rights complaint submitted to federal education officials regarding the Pennridge School District in Pennsylvania. However, the complaint has joined thousands of others sitting unaddressed following significant staffing reductions in the Trump administration.
“There was an expectation that something was going to happen,” explained Adrienne King, a parent of two students in the district who also serves as president of the NAACP Bucks County chapter. When no action occurred, “it’s a very hollow, empty feeling.”
The federal Education Department has traditionally served as the primary watchdog for discrimination in American schools. However, widespread layoffs and changing priorities have significantly reduced this function, leading to calls for state governments to fill the void.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are now considering legislation to create a state-level agency dedicated to investigating educational discrimination and protecting student civil rights — responsibilities that have historically fallen to federal authorities. Similar efforts are underway in other Democratic-controlled states, where advocates are pushing existing agencies to take on expanded roles in fighting discrimination based on race, disability, or gender.
This shift toward state-level enforcement presents potential challenges. Creating a state-by-state approach could result in inconsistent protection levels across the country. Some experts worry this trend might encourage the federal government to further reduce its civil rights enforcement efforts.
Pennsylvania State Senator Lindsey Williams delivered a direct statement last fall when announcing her proposal for a new state civil rights office modeled after the federal system. “If the federal government won’t stand up for our most vulnerable students, I will,” declared Williams, a Democrat.
While her legislation faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled state Senate when introduced this spring, Williams believes it could serve as a template for other states. She has already received inquiries from legislators elsewhere, and comparable measures have emerged in Maryland and Illinois.
In the short term, Pennsylvania advocates are pushing for increased funding of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, an existing agency with authority to investigate schools and enforce student rights that is rarely utilized for educational matters. Currently, only 5% of the commission’s cases involve education, with most focusing on workplace discrimination.
Attorney Kristina Moon from the Education Law Center in Pennsylvania has begun directing families to file discrimination complaints with the state commission rather than federal agencies. She views this as the best available alternative for families left waiting amid federal dysfunction.
“It’s incredibly important for students and families to be aware of any other option available to them,” stated Moon, who is representing the families in the Pennridge case.
The commission has indicated willingness to accept cases that have stalled at the federal level, though officials acknowledge their constraints. The agency currently employs approximately 100 staff members, down from over 200 in previous years, raising questions about capacity to handle a significant increase in complaints.
Federal data from January 2025 shows more than 300 active investigations in Pennsylvania alone, each representing a potential case that could be transferred to state jurisdiction.
“It would be tough, I’ll be totally honest,” admitted Desireé Chang, the commission’s education director. “A stark influx would definitely put some weight on our agency. But we would do it because that is what we are charged with doing.”
Even before President Trump’s current term began, the federal Office for Civil Rights was overwhelmed by its caseload. Operations have slowed further following extensive layoffs that shuttered regional offices in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and other cities. Remaining staff members report that comprehensive investigations have become uncommon as they prioritize resolving the most straightforward complaints.
Simultaneously, current Trump administration officials have redirected the office to target schools that provide accommodations for transgender students and athletes, claiming such policies discriminate against girls and women.
Trump administration officials attribute the complaint backlog to the previous administration’s policies. Some previously terminated employees have been rehired to help process pending cases.
The impact is being felt nationwide. Maryland recently introduced legislation granting the state’s Commission on Civil Rights new authority to investigate school discrimination. While the commission has long handled discrimination cases in housing and employment, students currently lack a comparable state-level complaint process.
During a recent hearing, commission officials endorsed the legislation and emphasized they can no longer depend on federal agencies to protect student rights.
“Offices have been closed, people have been fired, cases are piling up or not even moving — that’s why we sought to step in that gap and provide Maryland students an option,” explained Glendora Hughes, the commission’s general counsel.
In Massachusetts, advocates are focusing attention on the state education department’s Problem Resolution System, which investigates family complaints alleging schools violated state or federal law. However, advocates say the office’s case selection criteria and procedures lack transparency. A coalition recently requested clarification from the office.
Legal aid organizations are also stepping in to address gaps. The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed suit against a Louisiana school district on behalf of a 10-year-old student with autism. The lawsuit alleges the St. Tammany Parish School District unlawfully reduced the child’s classroom time to just two hours daily in 2024, down from a full school day. The organization noted this type of case would typically have been handled by federal authorities previously.
The federal Education Department’s most significant enforcement tool is its ability to withdraw federal funding from schools that violate civil rights laws. When faced with this threat, schools have historically agreed to implement changes requested by the agency.
State-level proposals include different enforcement mechanisms. Some would enable states to mediate family-school disputes and issue binding orders. In contrast, California’s newly established Office of Civil Rights focuses primarily on providing anti-discrimination guidance and training to local school districts.
In the Pennridge district, affected families are considering their options. King expressed little confidence in the federal complaint’s prospects, noting the harassment continues. Her daughters still encounter racial slurs at school and face insensitive remarks about their appearance. She worries about the long-term impact on their development.
“I feel as though my girls have normalized a lot of this, but for the sake of survival — middle school is hard,” she reflected. “You just want to be like everybody else.”