The Trump administration has laid down a new condition for K-12 schools to receive federal money: Certify that they are not practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Education Department recently sent out a notice, as reported by The Chicago Sun-Times, requiring states and schools to sign and return a certification within 10 days, conflating federal funding with compliance to what the administration deems adherence to federal civil rights laws.
"Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right," said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, in a statement cited by The Chicago Sun-Times. He accused many schools of using DEI programs to "discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another." This move could put considerable financial pressure on districts, especially those relying heavily on Title I funding, which is designed to assist schools in low-income areas.
The certification in question necessitates that educational leaders acknowledge, by their signature, that the acceptance of federal funds is conditional. As stated in a notice obtained by AP News, the administration has included an extensive legal analysis outlining the terms of compliance. "The use of certain DEI practices can violate federal law," the certification reads.
This directive follows a previous memo, as per AP News, dated Feb. 14, which decried any school policy that treats students or staff differently based on race as unlawful, insinuating widespread discrimination in education, "often against white and Asian American students." Noncompliant schools may face the withdrawal of federal funding and potential legal action under the False Claims Act.
.jpg){kind=link}