Eugene School District 4J

A coalition of nationwide associations of educators including Eugene School District 4J has won a nationwide preliminary injunction in an important education case. The ruling will temporarily stop a U.S. Department of Education threat to prosecute or strip funding from the school district and other educational institutions across the country that teach history, sociology, and other lessons that reference race and racism, or provide support to students and foster healthy school communities through diversity, equity or inclusion efforts.

A Maryland federal court judge issued the preliminary injunction — a temporary pause of the contested threats — on April 24. Legal arguments can now continue about permanently voiding the threats, without the threats going into effect. The case, American Federation of Teachers, et al. v. U.S. Department of Education, et al., was brought by the Eugene School District 4J, American Federation of Teachers, AFT-Maryland, and the American Sociological Association in federal court in Maryland. The complaint challenged a “Dear Colleague Letter,” published by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights on February 14, 2025, which threatened education institutions. The  Department of Education set April 24, 2025, as a deadline for every school district in the country to certify compliance. 

“The Court’s order ensures that our public schools can continue to provide fair and equal access to public education for all our students,” Board Chair Jenny Jonak said. “Teachers can continue to teach history and science accurately; we can continue to provide social and emotional learning supports; and we can continue to provide an environment that helps every student feel a sense of safety and belonging. The Dear Colleague letter and certification requirement tried to force us to pick between the supports that students need to thrive and federal funding that all of our students deserve. That’s an unconscionable choice, and thanks to the court’s ruling, we can get back to our jobs:  helping students learn.”

The preliminary injunction and full amended complaint are available online for review.

What does the ruling mean for 4J?

• 4J can argue its case without threat of loss of funds for following state standards in providing education and other supports to students. 
• 4J teachers can continue to teach curriculum that is required by Oregon state standards without fear that the US Department of Education will take enforcement actions against the district based on the U.S. Department of Education’s clearly erroneous interpretation of law.

How might the ruling affect 4J’s budget situation for 2025-26?

• 4J can continue to plan its work to implement ethnic studies standards and implement its support systems for all students without imminent fear that federal funds will be withdrawn.
• 4J receives and relies on substantial federal funding to support students. A loss of federal funding would have been devastating to the district. Federal funds support vulnerable student populations, including students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and students from migrant families. 
• Importantly, the federal funds are a primary resource for school meals that provide students with breakfast, lunch and snacks at no cost. For some students, these may be the only meals they have access to each day. 

What programs at 4J have been under threat from the Dear Colleague Letter?

• Oregon’s Ethnic Studies Standards
• Oregon’s Tribal History/Shared History Curriculum 
• Teaching about the Holocaust and other genocides
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs that help students cope with stress
• Affinity groups that supporting students by helping provide a sense of safety and belonging