Stanford University is under federal investigation for promoting a school program that helps teachers who “identify as a person of color” receive National Board Certifications, The California Post has learned.

“Instead of helping students achieve their goals through merit, Stanford appears to be conditioning access to National Board Certification programs based on skin color,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. 

The Department of Education launched its investigation Wednesday into Stanford’s National Board Resource Center, directed by Geetha Lakshminarayanan, to determine whether it violated Title VI, which prohibits the discrimination based on race, color or national origin for programs that receive federal funding. 

“Are you an educator of color considering pursuing National Board Certification? Are you a CTA member looking to deepen your teaching practice and connect with other educators of color? The California Teachers Association (CTA), the UCLA National Board Project, and the National Board Resource Center at Stanford (NBRC) are partnering to launch a second fully-funded cohort of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) teachers teachers committed to earning National Board Certification and serving as teacher leaders in their communities,” the application reads. 

The private university partnered with the California Teachers Association to launch a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Cohort that “work[s] to increase diversity among National Board Certified Teachers,” by providing “selected educators [with] full funding for all certification support services offered by Stanford NBRC,” according to the DOE. 

“It is unconscionable that an institution which claims to be a pinnacle of educational excellence would deny opportunities based on race. If the allegations are true, Stanford is engaged in discrimination – pure and simple,” Richey said. “The Trump Administration will always fight against discrimination to protect Americans’ rights under the law. All students, regardless of their skin color, should have an equal opportunity to succeed.”

National Board Certification is a voluntary program designed to “develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers,” and is the highest certification a teacher may obtain, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

The DOE’s investigation comes on the heels of the STOP DEI bill introduced in Congress last week that would prevent schools from receiving federal funds if the institution discriminates based on race, sex, ethnicity, color, or national origin in student aid decisions.