Teachers in many states are being trained to suffuse critical theory throughout the entirety of the traditional curriculum, pursuing what academics call “the other CRT”: culturally responsive teaching. In fact, a majority of state education departments have adopted some form of the pedagogy.

This other CRT hasn’t faced much pushback—until now. Families, teachers, and administrators in three western Pennsylvania school districts are suing the state Department of Education over its “culturally-relevant and sustaining education” (CR-SE) guidelines, arguing not only that it illegally skirted public scrutiny but also that the competencies listed in the guidelines violate state and federal civil rights guarantees.

According to their complaint, the guidelines dictate what teachers must believe and how they must behave.

[The University of Minnesota tried imposing this on their undergrads in 2009. FIRE got it reversed after embarrassing the school president at the time, but I predicted it would be back. Now it’s practically universal in college education programs. — Ed]