Texas Takes Legal Action Against School District Over Alleged Critical Race Theory Lessons

The State of Texas, led by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against the Coppell Independent School District (ISD), located just northwest of Dallas, accusing it of illegally teaching critical race theory (CRT). Paxton, a vocal Trump ally, alleges that the district defied state law prohibiting CRT in K-12 education.

CRT is a concept that examines how racial bias is embedded in societal structures, laws, and policies. A video featuring Coppell ISD’s Director of Curriculum, Evan Whitfield, reportedly revealed how the district sidestepped Texas laws to teach CRT. According to the lawsuit, Whitfield was caught on tape stating that the district does "what’s right" despite state standards and claimed, "We’ve gotten around [the law] by saying we’re not teaching it."

The lawsuit, filed in the Dallas County District Court, asserts that Coppell ISD has used district funds and resources to develop and distribute CRT curricula—actions Paxton deems illegal. The suit includes allegations that Whitfield encouraged teachers to bypass restrictions, even saying, "Shh, that’s what we do," when asked about teaching CRT behind closed doors.

Texas law explicitly bans teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another or that individuals are inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive due to their race or sex. It also prohibits educators from endorsing ideas linked to the "1619 Project," a New York Times initiative reframing American history as rooted in slavery. The law further forbids declaring traits like meritocracy or a strong work ethic as racist or sexist.

The Coppell ISD situation is not an isolated incident. A North Texas family previously sued the district in 2023 after their 10th-grade son was tasked with a CRT-inspired assignment by a chemistry teacher. The assignment allegedly required students to research non-white scientists and excluded "old, dead, white guys."

Paxton seeks a permanent injunction to bar the district from teaching CRT and demands the implementation of a "color-blind" curriculum aligned with Texas law. In a statement, Paxton emphasized, "Texas children deserve the best education in the world, not woke ideology forced upon them." He also warned that administrators who defy state law will face accountability.

The lawsuit underscores ongoing tensions over how race-related topics are taught in schools, reflecting a broader national debate. Coppell ISD now faces mounting legal and public scrutiny for its alleged defiance of state mandates.