Good News Alert! Civil Rights Department Wins of the Week

Workplace Discrimination Based on Language:

CAIR-Chicago supported an Assistant Principal who faced workplace discrimination after being passed over for a Principal position. The school council favored a less-qualified candidate solely because she spoke Spanish, citing the school's large Spanish-speaking population. The client also experienced retaliation from the newly appointed Principal, who removed her from her position and pressured her to leave CPS. With CAIR-Chicago’s assistance, the Equal Opportunity Compliance Office (EOCO), previously unable to assist, redirected her to the appropriate department that handles school council-related issues. This department has agreed to conduct her intake and investigate the matter further.

School Safety & Discipline Advocacy:

CAIR-Chicago's legal team recently supported a Muslim-American family in Justice, IL after a misunderstanding involving the IXL educational app led to the suspension of their elementary-aged son. The Civil Rights Department worked closely with the parents to advocate for their concerns, resulting in the student's suspension being removed, improved safety measures for the app, and the revision of the student's school report to ensure it no longer inaccurately reflects the incident.

CAIR-Chicago remains committed to supporting families and engaging with school administrations to ensure a safe and fair educational environment for all students.