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Federal Title VI probe of high school district on Long Island, NY

The U.S. Department of Education investigation is for alleged bias based on “shared ancestry,” which can include religion.

U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Credit: Emma K. Alexandra via Creative Commons.

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District on Long Island, N.Y., for alleged violations of Title VI in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Title VI violations relate to bias based on “shared ancestry,” which can include religion.

The department doesn’t typically reveal the reasons for its investigations publicly.

JNS sought comment from the school district.

The district operates five schools with 5,186 students, 2.9% of whom are eligible for federal free or reduced meal programs, per U.S. News & World Report. It spends $28,092 per student annually and has an annual revenue of nearly $156.8 million, per U.S. News.

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