Pittsburgh School District may hire controversial diversity consultant

(The Center Square)- The Pittsburgh School District may soon hire a consultant that’s drawn scrutiny for its alleged critical race theory training.

The district is reviewing a contract with Courageous Conversations, formerly Pacific Educational Group, for Racial Equity Affiliate training from Jan. 31, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025. It will focus on providing training through coaching and curriculum to two Board of Education employees in order to become certified Beyond Diversity facilitators, according to the Jan. 17 school board agenda documents.

The two employees will be set on the accelerated program to receive both the practitioner and facilitator certifications. The contract is not to exceed $14,000.

The consulting firm, under its former name, faced a legal challenge while working with Tredyffrin-Easttown School District in Chester County.

American First Legal, a non-profit, sued the Tredyffrin-Easttown on behalf of Ben Auslander, a student’s father, who had attempted to view the materials used by the district to educate the children.

- Advertisement -

The district and the organization told Auslander that he could not copy or take pictures of any material used for educating staff and children, claiming the organization had copyright protections.

American First Legal released all 166 pages of the documents on their website here.

The materials used by the California-based education consultant say “systemic Racism is the most devastating factor contributing to the diminished capacity of all children,” according to documents used to inform the curriculum.

Critical race theory began in academia as a concept that posits that race is a social construct reinforced by legal, economic and cultural barriers that discriminate against people of color.

Critics say the theory encourages racism, rather than dismantles it. Further, they argue, it doesn’t belong in public school classrooms.

“This should forever end all debate. Our innocent children are being viciously indoctrinated with CRT by Marxist radicals. This lawless, extremist, poisonous bigotry must be defeated,” America’s First Legal President, Stephen Miller, said in a statement.

- Advertisement -

Pittsburgh Public Schools and Courageous Conversations did not respond to The Center Square’s comment requests.

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Washington RUC bill receives deluge of opposition

(The Center Square) – A Washington state bill that...

Illinois county employees urged to speak out ahead of ethics hearing

(The Center Square) – A former McLean County Board...

More Democrats want a more moderate party, poll says

Data from a new Gallup survey suggests that close...

NYSE Plants Flag in Texas With Dallas Trading Hub

DALLAS (AURN News) — The New York Stock Exchange...

Think tank survey: Majority of Seattle’s chronically homeless originate elsewhere

(The Center Square) – According to data, an overwhelming...

Las Vegas sees first rain after 214-day dry spell

By Liam Hibbert | The Center Square Contributor ...

Louisiana firefighter pensions fund saw a 10.4% increase from 2023

(The Center Square) — A recent audit of the...

More like this
Related

Washington RUC bill receives deluge of opposition

(The Center Square) – A Washington state bill that...

Illinois county employees urged to speak out ahead of ethics hearing

(The Center Square) – A former McLean County Board...

More Democrats want a more moderate party, poll says

Data from a new Gallup survey suggests that close...

NYSE Plants Flag in Texas With Dallas Trading Hub

DALLAS (AURN News) — The New York Stock Exchange...