Filed Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
In this lawsuit, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice sued Minneapolis Public Schools, alleging unlawful preferential treatment of teachers of color and underrepresented teachers.
On December 9, 2025, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The United States sued the Board of Directors of Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis Public Schools (Board), Special School District No. 1, the Minneapolis Public Schools, and the Superintendent (collectively, “MPS”). The United States alleged that MPS discriminated against teachers based on their race, color, sex, and national origin in violation of Title VII by contracting with a teachers’ union to provide black teachers, teachers of color, and “underrepresented” teachers preferential treatment in employment decisions. The complaint specifically points to the agreement with the teachers union that includes an offering via a third party called “Black Men Teach.” “Black Men Teach” offers extra paid training days to black male teachers and exempts black male teachers from normal layoff policies. The United States alleged that the agreement with the teachers union allows MPS to exempt “underrepresented” teachers from normal layoff policies. The United States alleged that this preferential treatment was detrimental to any teacher who was not black, a person of color, or “underrepresented.”
The United States sought relief in the form of a declaratory judgment, a permanent injunction prohibiting MPS from implementing its agreement with the teachers union, and costs and fees. This case was assigned to Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
On February 9, 2026, the Minneapolis school entities filed a motion to dismiss, and the motion hearing took place on May 6, 2026. As of June 2026, the motion remains pending.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Sadie Henderson (6/19/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72010843/parties/united-states-v-board-of-directors-of-special-school-district-no-1/
Schiltz, Patrick Joseph (Minnesota)
Huang, Allen (Minnesota)
Wrobleski, Brandon (Minnesota)
Sullivan, Timothy A (Minnesota)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72010843/united-states-v-board-of-directors-of-special-school-district-no-1/
Last updated July 21, 2026, 3:45 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
School District
Minneapolis Public Schools
Minneapolis Public Schools
Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
District of Minnesota 0:25-cv-04571
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Race(s):
Case Summary of United States v. Board of Directors of Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis Public Schools, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47509/ (last updated 6/19/2026).