Press Release
Court Approves Consent Order in Long-Standing LouisianaSchool Desegregation Case
For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana has approved a consent order in United States v. West Carroll Parish School Board , a long-standing school desegregation case, the Justice Department announced. The consent decree comes after an in-depth review by the department of the West Carroll Parish School District's compliance with its outstanding desegregation obligations.
The consent order, which the court approved without modifications, declared the school system unitary in all areas of its operation except for student assignment, which includes issues related to student discipline.
To address the outstanding issues and achieve full unitary status, the school system agreed to immediately close one of its schools. Additionally, they are also required to address racial disparities in student discipline by adopting a revised student discipline policy, conduct a comprehensive training for all of its administrators, teachers and staff who are responsible for student discipline and adopt a process for monitoring student discipline data.
“We are pleased the court approved the consent order and that the West Carroll Parish School Board was willing to reach an agreement on this important case,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We look forward to working closely with the school system as it continues to enact policies and practices that create a safe and inclusive environment for all students.”
The enforcement of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in school districts is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt .
Updated February 5, 2025
Press Release Number: 12-1019