Case Particulars

Tribunal

Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education

Date Filed

August 19, 2023

Docket No.

OCR Case Number. 02-23-2273

Case Status

OCR Complaint Filed

Case Overview

Albert Einstein Medical School has participated in a New York State funding program — entitled The Einstein Enrichment Program — designed for 7-12th grade students and which contains discriminatory guidelines limiting participation to those who are Black, Latino, Alaskan native or American Indian. As for “non-minority/White” applicants, only those coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible for the program. The applicable state law for the program does not require that any school accept the funding; the school’s participation in the program was entirely voluntary.

Students in the program participate in a 30-week curriculum during the school year consisting of “ambulance-bay visits, suturing, seminars, test-prep classes and more.” 7th and 8th graders can attend an optional four-week summer program, while high school students have the option to attend their own four-week summer program.

The program limits the applicant pool to “minorities historically underrepresented in the scientific, technical, health related and licensed professions,” while White and Asian students must show that they are “economically disadvantaged” in order to be considered.

Equal Protection Project is the Complainant in this matter, which is under evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

Update: On January 31, 2024, EPP received a letter from OCR stating that it was dismissing the case based on litigation commenced against the State of New York for providing funding for allegedly racially discriminatory programs under the NY STEP Act. That case, Chu v. Rosa, is supported by EPP, who is co-representing the Plaintiffs, and is listed separately in this database.