New York Public Schools Stand Firm: No Compliance with DEI Directive Issued by Trump Administration
New York Holds Ground Against Trump's Demands on DEI Practices
bureaucrats have squared off against the Trump administration over the latter's insistence on scrapping diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in public schools. In defiance of the administration's threats to slash federal education funding, the state has rejected the demands.
Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner of the state Department of Education, wrote in a scathing letter to the federal Education Department that the feds have no legal ground to force the abandonment of DEI principles. "The current administration seems hellbent on silencing anything it deems 'diversity, equity & inclusion,'" he penned on Friday. But he emphasized that there are no federal or state laws banning DEI practices.
Furthermore, Morton-Bentley contended that the federal Department of Education lacks authority to demand states conform to its interpretation of court judgments or to revoke funding without adhering to formal administrative procedures. The U.S. Department of Education has yet to comment on the matter.
The Trump administration, on Thursday, issued an order for K-12 schools nationwide to verify within 10 days that they adhere to federal civil rights laws and abandon DEI practices that flout said laws. This stipulation serves as a condition for federal financial aid, accounting for approximately 6% of total K-12 school funding in New York.
Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, argued that federal assistance is a privilege, not a right, and was quick to accuse many schools of shirking their legal obligations, including the instance of DEI programs favoring one group over another. To uphold compliance, the demand asks state and school leaders to sign a "reminder of legal obligations," acknowledging federal funding hinges on adherence to civil rights laws. It also requires compliance with voluminous legal analysis crafted by the administration.
The demand specifically targets Title I funding, which channels billions of dollars annually to U.S. schools and concentrates on low-income areas. Morton-Bentley argued that the state Education Department has repeatedly attested compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, most recently in January. He posited that the federal department's demands to dismantle DEI programs stem from a flawed interpretation of the law.
Morton-Bentley asserted that, seeing as the federal government already possesses certifications from the state Education Department affirming compliance with Title VI, no further confirmation will be forthcoming. He also criticized the administration for adopting an "abrupt about-face" from the stance of the first Trump administration, referencing 2020 comments made by then-U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that diversity and inclusion were "pillars of organizational excellence." The administration has provided no rationale for this shift in position.
Critics of the demand contend that it contradicts Trump's pledge to return education control to schools and states. The looming threats of funding sanctions echo similar measures the administration has deployed against colleges as part of its crackdown on Israel-related protests deemed antisemitic. New York state, too, has balked at a Trump administration demand to halt a program funding mass transit in New York City via car tolls entering Manhattan.
Enrichment: New York State's Stand Against DEI Elimination
Due to the administration's push for DEI elimination, New York's stance could lead to a noteworthy legal battle between state and federal authorities. The standoff over DEI practices underscores the volatile intersection of education policy and civil rights, with both sides arguing over the legitimacy of their interpretations and enforcement abilities. Despite potential financial repercussions, New York has chosen to uphold its commitment to DEI principles, positioning itself as a champion of inclusivity and diversity in the face of adversity.
- The New York State Department of Education, under Daniel Morton-Bentley, firmly disagrees with the federal Education Department's push to censor diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in schools.
- In a letter addressed to the federal Education Department, Morton-Bentley asserted that neither federal nor state laws prohibit DEI practices, and the federal department lacks authority to mandate states to conform to its interpretation of court judgments.
- Despite threats of withholding federal funding, New York's us, led by the state Education Department, has refused to agree with the demands to abandon DEI principles, thus positioning itself as a staunch supporter of these practices in schools.
