Case: Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. U.S. Department of Education

1:26-cv-02795 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] The Board of Education of the City of Chicago filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education and several officials, alleging that the Department illegally discontinued the district's Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grants. The Department's action was based on two pending civil rights investigations by the Office of Civil Rights - one regarding Chicago Public Schools' Title IX guidelines supporting transgender students (opened …

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

The Board of Education of the City of Chicago filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education and several officials, alleging that the Department illegally discontinued the district's Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grants. The Department's action was based on two pending civil rights investigations by the Office of Civil Rights - one regarding Chicago Public Schools' Title IX guidelines supporting transgender students (opened March 2025) and another regarding the district's draft "Black Student Success Plan" (opened April 2025). On September 16, 2025, the Department sent a non-continuation letter without providing required procedural protections, demanding that CPS make nine policy changes within three days to seek reconsideration. When CPS requested additional time to respond, the Department refused and formally discontinued the funding on September 26, 2025. The lawsuit, filed on March 13, 2026, includes seven counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional claims, seeking to have the Department's actions rescinded and declared unlawful.

This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/17/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72457719/parties/board-of-education-of-the-city-of-chicago-v-us-department-of-education/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Givan, Yasemine Christine (Illinois)

Graham, Bonnie Little (Illinois)

Wills, Brandi Nicole (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Givan, Yasemine Christine (Illinois)

Graham, Bonnie Little (Illinois)

Wills, Brandi Nicole (Illinois)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-02795	Complaint	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72457719/board-of-education-of-the-city-of-chicago-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated March 17, 2026, 9:37 p.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT filed by BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-24846723. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit 11)(Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 9 Exhibit 8 View on PACER 10 Exhibit 9 View on PACER 11 Exhibit 10 View on PACER 12 Exhibit 11 View on PACER	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Yasemine Christine Givan (Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
3	MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Counsel for Plaintiff in this newly filed case contacted court staff to explain that the complaint contains an error in the signature block. Plaintiff may simply refile the corrected complaint without needing to seek leave. But the refiled complaint must not be otherwise substantively amended unless Plaintiff wishes to avail itself of the amendment-by-right provision of FRCP 15(a)(1); if so, the refiled complaint must be entitled "Amended Complaint." Otherwise, the refiled complaint must be denoted on the docket as "corrected." Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
4	CORRECTED COMPLAINT filed by BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit 11)(Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
	CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable John F. Kness. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Daniel P. McLaughlin. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (aw, )	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
	CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (aw, )	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
5	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Brandi Nicole Wills; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24852185. (Wills, Brandi) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
6	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Bonnie Little Graham; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24852371. (Graham, Bonnie) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
7	MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Motions by counsel for leave to appear pro hac vice 5, 6 are granted. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:26-cv-02795

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47906/ (last updated 3/17/2026).