Department of Education Sued Over Race-Based Criteria in PhD Grant Program

The grant program is a $60 million initiative designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in pursuing doctoral studies.

A student walks near Royce Hall on the campus of the University of California–Los Angeles on April 23, 2012. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

A lawsuit filed against the Department of Education alleges that the department uses unconstitutional racial criteria for a grant program.

The suit, filed on Aug. 27 by the Young America’s Foundation and two university students, claims that the Department of Education is discriminating against certain racial groups in its McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.