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Metro


ASIAN PARENTS CLAIM NY STEM PROGRAM DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THEIR KIDS IN FAVOR OF
BLACK, HISPANIC STUDENTS: SUIT

By Carl Campanile

Published Jan. 17, 2024, 6:23 p.m. ET

Asian parents filed a federal discrimination suit against the New York State
Education Department Wednesday — claiming their kids are being unfairly kept out
of a STEM summer program in favor of black and Hispanic students.

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The state-funded Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) admits around
11,000 7th-to-12th-grade students a year for classes at 56 participating
colleges and medical schools statewide.

The pre-college enrichment program aims to “increase the number of historically
underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students prepared to enter
college and improve their participation rate” in math, science, tech and health
fields, according to its website.

But while black, Hispanic and Native American students can apply regardless of
family wealth — Asian and white schoolkids need to meet certain low-income
criteria, the lawsuit filed in upstate New York federal court claims.

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“In other words, the Hispanic child of a multi-millionaire is eligible to apply
to STEP, while an Asian American child whose family earns just above the state’s
low- income threshold is not, solely because of her race or ethnicity,” the
filing states.


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DISCRIMINATION

The allegedly biased admissions criteria have been in place for nearly four
decades, the suit claims, adding: “Thirty-nine years of discrimination is
enough.”

Plaintiffs include New York City-based Yiatin Chu of the Asian Wave Alliance,
who said she was stunned when she first heard of STEP’s policy a few weeks ago
and decided to join the suit, which also names Education Commissioner Betty Rosa
as a defendant.

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3
Asian parents filed a federal discrimination suit against the New York State
Education Department, claiming their kids are being unfairly kept out of a STEM
summer program. James Messerschmidt

“This is outright discrimination against Asian-American students pursuing the
STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education] field,” said Chu, an
advocate for merit-based admissions at the city’s specialized high schools.

“The program should be for all students or for low income students. The state is
choosing which race is eligible,” she told The Post.

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Other plaintiffs include the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New
York, Inclusive Education Advocacy Group and Higher with Our Parent Engagement.

Attorneys from both the Pacific Legal Foundation and the anti-affirmative action
group Equal Protection Project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation are
representing them in the case.

The EPP has filed other lawsuits and civil rights complaints with the US
Education Department against New York colleges for allegedly promoting
discriminatory racial-preference admission policies for academic programs.

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3
While black, Hispanic and Native American students can apply regardless of
family wealth — Asian and white schoolkids need to meet certain low-income
criteria, the lawsuit filed in upstate New York federal court claims. Ryan
Rahman/Pacific Press/Shutte

“The time has come to correct and end discrimination against students throughout
the state,” said EPP’s president and director William Jacobson, a Cornell Law
professor.

The Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) is proud to team up with Pacific
Legal to challenge discriminatory standards in the STEP program so that students
do not miss out on educational opportunities because of their skin color or
ethnicity,” he said.

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In 1985, New York lawmakers passed legislation aimed at boosting interest in
science, technology, and healthcare among low-income and underrepresented
minority students — resulting in the creation of STEP, which earmarked public
funds to 56 colleges, universities and medical schools statewide to instruct the
younger students.

3
Plaintiffs include Yiatin Chu of the Asian Wave Alliance, who said she was
stunned when she first heard of STEP’s policy a few weeks ago which also names
Education Commissioner Betty Rosa as a defendant. nysed.gov
What do you think? Post a comment.

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Colleges host and operate STEP initiatives for 7th-to-12th-grade students that
include instruction, exam preparation, hands-on and research training, college
admissions guidance and career-focused activities such as field trips and
college visits.

But racial-preference programs — aimed at correcting historic injustices or
underrepresentation of African Americans and other minorities — have come under
the microscope after the US Supreme Court last year struck down college
affirmative action programs aimed at boosting minority representation as
discriminatory.

“If the government wants to fund educational opportunities for children in need,
it can do so. What it can’t do is use economic need as a way to treat applicants
differently based on their race,” the Pacific Legal Foundation said in a
statement.

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“STEP’s expressly race-conscious application process blatantly violates the
Constitution’s equal protection guarantee.”

The Education Department had no immediate comment.


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