Kyrene School District is at risk of losing $1.5 million in federal funding due to a policy focused on supporting staff social-emotional wellness, which includes diversity, equity, and inclusion language. The district serves four Title I schools, which are important for educating low-income students, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
State Superintendent Tom Horne has criticized the language of a policy, saying it conflicts with the U.S. Department of Education's stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Horne stated, "DEI, by nature, does not deal with individuals. They stereotype people, and then they look for equal results by stereotype. And that's very contrary to the idea of individual merit," as reported by ABC15. He also emphasized that the federal government expects schools to follow new directives discouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion to maintain federal funding.
Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes stated that "All Kyrene policies, including policies around inclusion and social-emotional wellness, are in compliance with state and federal law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act." The district’s "Kyrene Promise" ensures "to provide welcoming, inclusive learning environments in which every student is honored, valued, and feels a strong sense of belonging and purpose," which was obtained by both ABC15 and FOX 10 Phoenix. The district has been informed that it must choose between signing a form to remove certain diversity, equity, and inclusion policy components or losing federal funding for Title I schools. Kyrene Board President Kevin Walsh noted that Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne had not directly contacted the district about this issue.
