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Parents claiming that a statewide STEM program discriminates against Asian and white students in its admissions criteria are suing the New York State Department of Education.
The lawsuit filed in federal court on Jan. 17 alleges that the admissions requirements for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), which was initially founded 39 years ago to give historically underrepresented students a leg up in college admissions, are racially discriminatory.
Chu, et al. v. Rosa, led by a Whitestone parent as the sole individual plaintiff, is making the case that educational opportunities denied to children based on race violate the constitutional premise of equality.
The publicly funded program provides around 11,000 students each year with laboratory research training, test preparation and college admissions counseling through partnerships with dozens of universities across the state. To determine which students will benefit from the academic enrichment program, race and economic eligibility are the only two aspects considered for those enrolled in grades 7-12.