Latest
Underperforming California school district paying enormous sum to teach kids with a ‘rap curriculum’
An underperforming California school district is dishing out nearly $300,000 to partner with a group to teach a rap-based curriculum to students, sparking “troubling” concerns, the Justice Department said.
The Merced City School District, one of the state’s lower-performing school districts, has signed a $270,000 contract with School Yard Rap, the New York Post reported.
The agreement includes a summer “Rap Camp” and an “African American Affinity Group,” which has raised questions about whether the partnership complies with federal law.
WATCHDOG EXPOSES TAXPAYER-FUNDED TEACHER PROGRAM FOR BANNING WHITE APPLICANTS: ‘LIKELY ILLEGAL’
Lessons include history lessons, songwriting, DJ-ing and performances.
“The School Yard Rap curriculum transforms history lessons into relatable characters presented through songs and storytelling- resulting in emotional connection,” the School Yard Rap website states.
Established in 2016, School Yard Rap, which operates in 28 states, presents “a world where learning meets rhythm, exploring diverse cultures and subjects through interactive music-infused modules.”
Merced has handed out $610,000 worth of contracts to School Yard Rap, the Post reported. Fox News Digital has reached out to the school district and School Yard Rap.
The Justice Department told Fox News Digital that any race-based programming is “troubling.”
“It is illegal for the government to offer benefits solely on the basis of race. We have not had the opportunity to investigate these allegations, but if true, they are troubling,” Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, told Fox News Digital.
FBI RAID INVOLVING LA SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT POSSIBLY TIED TO FAILED $6M AI DEAL, POTENTIAL CONFLICT
Brandon Brown, a former school teacher and founder of School Yard Rap, told the newspaper that the programming wasn’t exclusionary.
“This camp specifically — the African American Affinity Camp — is open to every single student grades 3rd to 8th, focusing on African American history and the diaspora,” he said. “I think this is politically driven and the reason this is being called out.”
However, one of School Yard Rap’s programs, titled “Moor than a Month” features song lyrics mimicking those by hip-hop group Migos, which talks about white patriarchy.
“I’mma be Black every day that I’m here, no cap, for more than a month, just like every Black kid in class,” the song said.
“So this album for them, but this track’s for you — every teacher and parent, you need this truth,” one line states. “History books have a white male skew, but believe me I ain’t blaming you. That’s who wrote it on paper — it’s a cycle by nature.”
The school district serves 11,400 students but has a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1, according to Niche, a website that compiles data to rank and review schools. Only 13% of the students meet math-proficiency benchmarks, the report states.
The Justice Department has launched probes recently into other school districts for alleged race-based programs and hiring practices. In April 2025, it began looking into Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Plan over alleged race-based benefits.
Latest
NJ man crawls through window, attempts to sexually assault girl before being subdued by resident: police
A New Jersey man allegedly broke into a home through a bathroom window and tried to sexually assault a girl as she slept early Saturday before he was subdued by the resident inside.
Jermin Fordyce, 36, is charged with first-degree counts of home invasion, burglary and attempted aggravated sexual assault, as well as second-degree aggravated assault, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Hackensack police officers responded to a home around 3:40 a.m. for a home invasion burglary. Once at the scene, they found Fordyce, who had been subdued by the residents inside the home after they found him inside one of the bedrooms, police said.
Fordyce entered the home through a bathroom window and entered the bedroom of the girl who was sleeping, officials said. Police described the victim only as a “resident.” NJ.com reported the victim was a girl.
Once inside the room, Fordyce took off his pants and climbed on top of the girl as she was sleeping and attempted to sexually assault her, police said.
He allegedly strangled her during the assault, authorities said.
One of the other residents awoke to the sounds of a struggle coming from the girl’s room and took down Fordyce.
Fordyce remains in police custody pending a court hearing.
These under-$25 Amazon finds are thoughtful, practical picks you’ll wish you bought sooner. From a portable tire inflator to a mini fan and bug traps, they tackle everyday annoyances with ease. Even better, some are already discounted ahead of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, running March 25 through 31.
READ MORE: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale hasn’t started yet — but these early deals are live right now
These clever finds solve everyday problems like lost keys, limited outlets and dirty earbuds.
Original price: $12.96
Upgrade any outlet with this wall charger, featuring five outlets and four USB ports. Keep your devices powered without the cord clutter — and grab it before the deal disappears.
Stop losing your keys or wallet with the Life360 tile. The Bluetooth tracker works with Apple and Android devices, letting you ring your Tile or track it through the free app. With this deal live now, it’s a smart time to try it for yourself.
Original price: $6.45
Get the gunk out of your AirPods with this compact kit designed to reach tight spaces inside earbuds and charging cases. It’s a simple, low-cost way to improve sound and hygiene, and works on phones, tablets and other devices.
READ MORE: Early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals: Fox News reader favorites under $25
Organize cords and manage pests at home with these small upgrades.
Keep messy cables out of sight with this cord management box designed to hide power strips and wires. It’s made from durable plastic and blends in easily with existing decor. A rear cable slot helps maintain the neat setup.
Manage pests with these insect traps. UV light attracts bugs and traps them in a disposable adhesive cartridge. Each set includes a plug-in device and one cartridge.
Original price: $9.99
This roll-up drying rack is a smart solution for small kitchens. Lay it over the sink to air-dry dishes and roll it up for storage after. It even doubles as a heat-resistant trivet.
Keep your vehicle in prime condition with these gadgets.
Original price: $39.99
Keep this portable tire inflator in your car for quick fixes on the road. It’s compact, easy to use with preset settings and a digital display, and powerful enough for car tires. Snag it while it’s 48% off.
Original price: $12.99
Minimize clutter in your car with this tiny trash can. It attaches to a seat headrest and secures with snaps to hold trash bags in place. It’s even insulated, so you could use it as a cooler in a pinch.
Original price: $8.99
This reusable cleaning gel pulls crumbs and debris from hard-to-reach spots like a center console and dashboard. You can also use it on electronics to pick up dust and dirt.
These kitchen tools speed up prep work and keep things tidy and safe.
Original price: $15.99
Skip the sticky hands and lingering garlic smell with this easy-to-use garlic peeler and chopper. The rocking design makes mincing simple, while the silicone tube handles peeling in seconds.
Useful for more than just child-proofing, these refrigerator locks keep doors securely shut. Adjustable straps fit corners from 3 to 8 inches and attach with a strong adhesive.
Can’t shake that trash can smell? Try these Arm & Hammer baking soda pouches that absorb odors for up to 30 days. Just drop one in and let it do the work.
Stock up on outdoor essentials ahead of warmer weather.
Original price: $9.99
Beat the heat on the go with this compact handheld fan. With three speeds and a rechargeable battery, it’s a tiny workhorse that fits easily into a handbag or backpack — perfect for travel, commuting or quick relief from the sun.
Original price: $15.98
Avoid streaky sunburns with this roll-on sunscreen applicator that spreads SPF without the mess. Easy to use and kid-friendly, grab it while it’s on sale for 20% off.
For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals
Original price: $2.50
Heading outside more? This first aid kit packs essential wound care items into a compact case, making it easy to handle cuts, scrapes and more. Pack one in the car or tuck it into a gym bag.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.
“The View” co-host Sara Haines said on Monday she is not against the idea of ICE agents filling in as the government shutdown impacts TSA.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be deployed to airports across the country to help ease travel chaos brought on by the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
Tens of thousands of TSA agents have been forced to work without pay for weeks as the shutdown draws on with no end in sight. It’s led to hours-long delays at airports across the country, with images of massive security lines dominating the news.
“I don’t actually hate the idea of this right now,” Haines said of ICE agents filling in to help airports. “ICE has gotten billions of dollars, they have almost doubled their budget. We’re talking about TSA workers who aren’t getting paid and the ones that are making it there are having to pay for gas prices and riding buses.”
TRUMP DEMANDS ‘SAVE AMERICA ACT’ BE TIED TO DHS FUNDING AMID AIRPORT CHAOS
“And so if you want to fill in bodies here,” she continued, “because their success rate at finding criminals has been 5%. These are 100% guaranteed travelers coming through there, so I just feel like putting more people on the job, I don’t see that as a bad thing.”
“You mean, you want to feel safe when you take your kids to the airport?” guest host Abby Huntsman quipped. “It’s crazy we’re spending billions of dollars on a war right now, what’s going on in Iran, and we can’t even feel safe in our airports, and Congress is still getting paid!”
Co-host Sunny Hostin, however, argued that she is not comfortable having ICE agents working in airports, arguing they not only have less training, but undergo completely different kinds of training that differentiate from TSA agents.
“I don’t feel comfortable at all having ICE agents there, because ICE agents, instead of getting 72 days of training, they only get 42 days of training, and they are not trained the way TSA agents — let’s remember TSA agents require four to six months of training, including two to three weeks at a TSA academy,” she said.
HOUSE GOP TARGETING VULNERABLE DEMS OVER DHS SHUTDOWN, TSA CHAOS
She argued further that such training “includes x-ray simulation, passenger screening, bag inspection, emergency protocols, and then they have to get recertified every couple of months. An ICE agent with 42 days of experience wearing a mask and no body camera has no business in our airports. I’m sorry.”
Haines disagreed, however, arguing that ICE agents will not only be better behaved in airports than in immigration raids, but have also made major concessions regarding Democrats’ concerns.
“Sunny, I disagree. First of all, I will say they are more dangerous undertrained on the streets than they are in the airports I would say, but also, I definitely see the politics on both sides, but Democrats need to realize that perfect — don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” she said.
She then followed by arguing, “They have compromised. They’re doing expansion of body cameras. Markwayne Mullin agreed during his hearing to do the warrants when they’re searching unless it’s an emergency.”
Ultimately, Haines argued, TSA workers need to get paid.
Gregg Jarrett Predicts Why Supreme Court Justices Won’t Justify Mail-In-Ballots After Election Day
Report: Israel Launches Renewed Strikes on Tehran as Trump Says War Close to Ending
Globalists at Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal Demand Ground Troops in Iran
Pentagon targets Iran-linked militias in Iraq as Hegseth vows ‘we will finish this’ for fallen US troops
9 Celebrities who have spoken out about being photoshopped
Inside Joe Kent’s abrupt fall as GOP backlash grows over antisemitism accusations, FBI probe
-
Politics4 days agoPentagon targets Iran-linked militias in Iraq as Hegseth vows ‘we will finish this’ for fallen US troops -
Entertainment9 years ago9 Celebrities who have spoken out about being photoshopped
-
News4 days agoInside Joe Kent’s abrupt fall as GOP backlash grows over antisemitism accusations, FBI probe
-
Latest4 days agoHouse Democrats vote against deporting immigrants who harm police dogs, horses
-
Latest4 days agoPence urges Senate to ‘restore public confidence’ with nationwide voter ID law
-
Politics4 days agoPentagon seeks at least $200B from Congress for Iran war
-
News13 hours ago
Trump Says US Negotiating With Iran, Postpones Power Plant Strikes
-
News13 hours ago
Trump Says No Deal Should Be Made on DHS Funding Until SAVE Act Passed