Diversity & Equity
The Education Department threatened the federal funding of states that wouldn’t comply with the administration’s anti-DEI interpretation of civil rights law. With that demand paused, states are suing to end it entirely.
The Education Department had given states until Thursday to certify compliance with its controversial interpretation of civil rights law. Federal judges complicated that effort hours before the deadline.
The Trump administration said the orders would make schools safer and give teachers more tools to maintain behavior in their classrooms. The move is tied to the administration’s broader effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools.
The ruling could have long-lasting impacts on what some schools teach and how far they go to accommodate religious objections to curriculum.
Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said the state already complies with civil rights laws and therefore isn’t required to sign a certification the federal government wants.
The abrupt removal of Superintendent Brendan Mims angered community members who said he’s pushed the district forward academically.
The Trump administration wants state officials to certify that schools are following its interpretation of civil rights laws, or else lose federal funding. Some are refusing to comply.
However, Commissioner Susana Córdova said she will sign a new assurance that the state is in compliance with Title VI, which bans discrimination on the basis of race.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education sent a letter to the Trump administration certifying that the state “has and will continue to comply” with civil rights laws.
The Chicago Board of Education has not yet launched a state-mandated committee focused on Black students. Advocates are pushing board members to create it.
The Trump administration has given states 10 days to certify that their schools do not engage in practices that promote DEI — or lose their federal funding.
The letter from New York officials represents some of the earliest and most forceful pushback to the Trump administration’s threat to state education agencies over DEI efforts.
The Trump administration has sought to restrict how schools can address topics of race, gender, and sexuality. But in NYC schools, the push for diverse instruction continues.
The Elizabeth school district will file an emergency motion to halt enforcement of the judge’s order, a spokesperson said.
‘Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,’ a Trump education civil rights official warned states.
Local education leaders have underscored their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, but some say officials must do more.
Educators warned federal funding cuts could disrupt afterschool programs, support for homeless students, and more.
What’s the state of ethnic studies in New York City schools? And how does recent political opposition from the Trump administration threaten its expansion?
Students share firsthand perspectives on the complexities of high school admissions, resource gaps, and the urgent need for systemic change in New York City.
New York City’s 2016 law requiring schools to provide free menstrual products in bathrooms was the first such legislation in the country.