U.S.Court order
Supreme Court will hear Asian-American parents' challenge to Maryland magnet school lottery
The U.S. Supreme Court on October 19, 2026, agreed to hear Association for Education Fairness v. Montgomery County Board of Education, a challenge by mostly Asian-American parents to admissions for four selective magnet middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. The justices limited review to whether a plaintiff attacking a facially neutral admissions policy as racially discriminatory must show aggregate disparate impact relative to the group's share of applicants.
Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · NBC News, SCOTUSblog
Key points
- Since 2021-22, eligible fifth graders who meet grade, reading and test criteria enter a pool, and seats are filled by lottery.SCOTUSblogNBC News
- The parents argue the policy, though race-neutral on its face, was meant to cut Asian-American enrollment and increase Black and Hispanic enrollment.SCOTUSblogNBC News
- U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis dismissed the suit, and the Fourth Circuit affirmed in a brief February opinion.SCOTUSblogNBC News
- The parents say appeals courts are split on whether intent claims can proceed without alleging disparate impact.SCOTUSblog
- Argument is expected early next year; the school board had called the dispute unremarkable and urged the Court to deny review.SCOTUSblog
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
NBC News
SCOTUSblog
Supreme Court of the United States