Discrimination Lawsuit Challenges NY STEP Act: A Turning Point in Education Justice

Marking a watershed moment in education justice, the Equal Protection Project, allied with the Pacific Legal Foundation, has instigated legal proceedings against the New York STEP Act. The lawsuit, representing an Asian-American parent and three Asian-American civic groups, charges the Act with discriminatory practices. This pivotal legal action, spotlighted by a full-page article in the NY Post, has ricocheted into public discourse, with numerous media features, including a segment on the widely-followed Jay Oliver Show.

The Controversial STEP Act

The Science Technology Entry Program (STEP) has been at the heart of this controversy. The lawsuit contends that the STEP Act's eligibility requirements are prejudiced, favoring Black, Hispanic, and Native American students, while demanding Asian and White students demonstrate economic hardship to be considered. The Equal Protection Project and Asian-American groups are demanding an end to this bias, which, they argue, has been festering for nearly four decades.

A Fight for Equality

Asian-American parent groups, in their struggle for fairness, are confronting the New York State Education Department over the STEP program. They assert that the eligibility criteria, founded on race and family income, unfairly sidelines Asian and White students. The lawsuit is emphatic about banning the use of racial classifications in determining student eligibility for STEP. Furthermore, it leans on a previous Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action.

Potential Repercussions

Champions of equality in education warn that a judgment favoring the plaintiffs could potentially undermine efforts to ensure racial integration in schools and workplaces. Backed by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York, the lawsuit not only seeks to rectify perceived inequities in the STEP program but also aims to address the larger issue of equality in education.