FOIA Request: External Communications of OPEPD Special Assistant Kayla Patrick (U.S. Department of Education)
| Agency | Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Type | FOIA Request |
| Issue | Diversity, Equity, and InclusionPolitical Appointees |
| Tracking | DFI FOIA No. 100-33-22 |
| Date | Nov 16, 2022 |
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on all matters relating to policy development, implementation, evaluation and review, budget proposals and processes, data strategy and governance, and student privacy. OPEPD aligns all Department functions with the Secretary's policy priorities. Kayla Patrick, a political appointee, is a Special Assistant in OPEPD and has openly expressed and advocated overtly racist views concerning the impact of white educators on "girls of color," blaming "implicit bias" and "400 years of systemic anti-Blackness [] folded into our nation's fabric." DFI is concerned that Ms. Patrick's long-held views are impacting Departmental policies, including but not limited to grant awards to "Equity Assistance Centers" as well as the Department's "Agency Equity Plan" that requires all policies to be formulated through the lens of race, among other indicia - in violation of Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which provide for the desegregation of public schools and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs). DFI's FOIA request is for records of Ms. Patrick's communications with White House officials and particular outside interest groups which appear to share her views, including her previous employers and other advocacy groups.
Request Response