Filed Tuesday, the complaint accuses the Rhode Island Department of Education and the state-run Providence Public School District of "blatant race discrimination." The lawsuit specifically takes aim at the "Educators of Color Loan Forgiveness Program," which offers up to $25,000 in student debt repayments for new teachers in Providence. "The catch: white teachers are not eligible," the complaint notes. With a student body that is more than 90% non-white, Providence has long sought to recruit more teachers of color.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program has incentivized careers in the public sector, including work in hospitals, schools, local governments, and nonprofits. These cuts are coming at a time when there is a dire need for increased financial aid, as more students graduate with debt, not more obstacles to a livable wage.
