Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has launched investigations into three St. Louis County school districts over alleged discriminatory practices.

Bailey’s directives, conveyed through letters, call on the Lindbergh School District to cease employing what he terms as “race-based criteria” in its gifted program. Similarly, accusations have been leveled against the Parkway School District for purportedly impeding students from establishing religious clubs. Additionally, Bailey has pointed fingers at the Webster Groves School District, alleging the use of race-based standards in their hiring processes.

The attorney general asserts that Lindbergh’s LEAP program enforces distinct percentile requirements based on students’ racial or ethnic backgrounds. Speaking to Todd Starnes, Bailey underscored his stance against racism and discrimination rooted in religion, citing constitutional safeguards, state statutes, and federal laws. He emphasized the authority granted to the Attorney General’s office by the Missouri Human Rights Act to pursue legal action in such cases.

In response, the accused districts have pushed back. Lindbergh’s Superintendent, Dr. Tony Lake, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and lacking factual basis, asserting that all students must meet the state’s IQ criteria for gifted program selection.

Parkway’s Superintendent, Dr. Keith Marty, faces allegations of religious club restrictions, which he vehemently denies. Marty highlights the presence of active religious groups across all four high schools in the district, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jewish Student Union, Muslim Student Union, and Catholic Faith Club.

Similarly, Webster Groves School District rebuffs Bailey’s accusations of discriminatory hiring practices, labeling them as “ridiculous.” The district affirms its dedication to fostering diversity among its faculty, staff, and applicants.

Bailey’s call for abandoning diversity initiatives within the district has fueled ongoing debates regarding fairness and equal opportunities within St. Louis County schools as the investigations progress.