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NY judge greenlights racial discrimination lawsuit targeting state pre-college program

A New York judge has allowed a racial discrimination lawsuit to proceed against the New York State Education Department (NYSED) concerning its Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP). The lawsuit, filed by the Equal Protection Project, claims that STEP, which aims to provide academic enrichment to underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students, discriminates by excluding students based on race, specifically targeting white and Asian students. The program's eligibility criteria, which include being from a group historically underrepresented in certain professions, were challenged as violating the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The judge's decision to let the case move forward was based on the argument that the program's racial criteria could not be justified under strict scrutiny, which requires that racial classifications serve a compelling governmental interest and be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over race-based educational programs.

Read the Full CBS 6 Article at:
[ https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/ny-judge-greenlights-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-targeting-state-pre-college-program-new-york-nysed-science-and-technology-entry-program-step-crisis-in-the-classroom ]