California school district spends $170k on anti-oppression teacher training, moving beyond allyship.
A California School District Spends $171,000 on Left-Wing Equity Trainings
A California school district recently made headlines for spending a whopping $171,000 on “equity trainings” from a Left-wing consulting firm. Public records obtained by The Daily Wire reveal that the Riverside Unified School District entered into a contract with Epoch Education, an education consulting firm known for its use of Critical Race Theory.
The contract, which can be viewed here, shows that the school district purchased three different “equity series” coaching sessions and courses that are deeply rooted in Critical Race Theory. One of these programs, called the Equity Learning Series, consists of 20 hours of online courses that delve into the core principles of Critical Race Theory, such as “systemic racial inequity,” intersectionality, racial privilege, and implicit bias. The program aims to provide participants with a common language and an equity lens to identify and discuss equity issues. You can find the program outline here.
According to a document from Epoch Education, which can be accessed here, another program offered by the consulting firm is called the “Creating And Sustaining Equity Series.” This program involves five two-hour sessions that focus on “deep transformative work” and is designed for organizations that are ready to move beyond allyship to anti-oppression.
Critical Race Theory Spreads Across the Country
While Critical Race Theory has gained significant traction in deep-blue states like California, it is not limited to these areas. Education nonprofit Parents Defending Education has identified hundreds of school districts across the country, including in every state, that promote Critical Race Theory and the equity agenda through various means such as teacher trainings, lesson plans, race-based affinity groups, and reading lists.
However, despite the substantial amount of money being spent on Left-wing education consulting programs, reading and math scores have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades. This decline in academic performance affects students of all races and genders. You can read more about it here.
Epoch Education’s Admission to Critical Race Theory
Epoch Education has openly acknowledged its use of Critical Race Theory and has even hosted presentations on the topic. These presentations explore concepts such as “racial awakening,” “racism as the heartbeat of America,” and “whiteness as property.” Parents Defending Education has noted that Epoch Education previously offered a course titled ”Critical Race Theory: From Theory to Practice,” although it is no longer listed on their website.
The Riverside Unified School District’s involvement with Epoch Education dates back to at least 2020. Riverside’s Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Perez gave a presentation to the school board announcing the partnership with the consulting firm. The presentation, influenced by professional development modules from Epoch Education, encouraged staff members to become “equity champions,” develop cultural competency, and explore the concept of ”whiteness as property through Critical Race Theory.” Interestingly, board members had denied teaching Critical Race Theory just a month prior.
The district’s equity resource list page, which has since been deleted, featured numerous Critical Race Theory texts, including an “Anti-Racist Reading List” and an essay titled “Decentering Whiteness.” The essay argues that “white culture has, on balance, been based on principles of conquest and exploitation.”
The Riverside Unified School District has not responded to requests for comment regarding their partnership with Epoch Education.
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