Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has announced that his lawsuit against Coppell Independent School District (ISD) has been resolved, following the district’s agreement to comply with state law prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in classrooms.
Earlier this year, the attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against the suburban Dallas-area district, alleging that Coppell ISD was incorporating CRT and unapproved curricula into its classrooms, violating Texas statutes that restrict certain instructional materials.
The resolution comes after the district took voluntary measures to disavow CRT and reinforce compliance with state mandates.
According to a press release from the attorney general’s office, Coppell ISD issued clear guidance to its teachers and staff reaffirming that CRT would not be taught and communicated the legal obligations under Texas law.
“Every school district must follow the law, and Coppell ISD is no exception,” the attorney general said. “The District made the right decision by working with my office to ensure that anti-American critical race theory is not taught in classrooms. I call on all school districts to voluntarily act to stop woke ideology from being forced on Texas kids, and if they don’t then I’ll see them in court.”
Attorney General Paxton has prioritized combating CRT, previously targeting other school districts over what he calls the infiltration of “woke” or “radical” ideologies in public education.
Texas’ ban, which was enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2021 and expanded in 2023, prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another or that individuals are inherently racist due to their race or background.
Attorney General Paxton warned that his office will continue to monitor school districts across Texas for potential violations.
“I will not hesitate to take action to protect our students if Coppell ISD or any other district fails to comply with the law in the future,” he said.
In his latest effort to combat CRT, Attorney General Paxton announced an investigation against the Austin Independent School District (AISD), claiming that the district is in violation of state law by promoting elements of CRT in its curriculum.
