PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence Public School District (PPSD) and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for a student loan repayment program that allegedly discriminates against teachers who identify as white. According to a statement from PPSD to the Providence School Board, the DOJ sent a March notice of the investigation into whether the district is “engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964.” The DOJ also stated that the investigation was launched based on information that RIDE and PPSD “may be engaged in certain employment practices with respect to a student loan repayment program that discriminate against teachers who identify as white.” The investigation stems from an April, 2021 Rhode Island Foundation initiative that raised $3.1 million to provide student loan forgiveness to a minimum of 125 teachers of color. This would serve as incentive for these teachers to work for the PPSD. According to PPSD, students of color represented 80 percent of student enrollment at that time, with 20 percent of teachers identifying as people of color. “Increasing the diversity of our teaching force is not only aligned with the core values of the District, but also has a direct, positive impact on student outcomes as demonstrated by years of educational research,” said PPSD Superintendent Javier Montañez, EdD in the statement. The statement emphasized that PPSD is an equal opportunity employer that does not “discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, color, disability, or veteran status.” ABC6 has reached out to both the Rhode Island Foundation and RIDE for comment in this matter. Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island ...read more read less