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Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine will not sign Trump administration letter to remove DEI programs from schools
Apr. 24—Maine's education department will not sign a letter certifying with the federal government that it has removed diversity, equity and inclusion programs from school in compliance with Title VI. In a Thursday message to school districts, Maine's education leaders said that they would not sign the letter, and asked that superintendents not sign it either. "After consultation with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, it was determined that signing the new certification would bind the Maine DOE to language of executive orders or other federal guidance without the force of law, and that lacked clarity regarding what was, or was not, prohibited," the message said. "These were critical considerations, given the potential consequence of a loss of federal funding." The directive stems from a February "Dear Colleague" letter from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights that gave all states 14 days to remove DEI programming to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned affirmative action in college admissions. The deadline for that letter passed without consequence, and on April 3 the department issued a new memo that gave states and districts 10 more days to sign. Because of a lawsuit against the directive in New Hampshire federal court, that deadline was extended to April 24. A judge ruled Thursday that the directive overstepped the executive branch's legal authority, and said the administration did not provide an adequate definition of DEI. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling. The Maine DOE said that while it declined to sign the compliance certification, it did issue a letter saying to the federal department saying that the state and individual school districts already comply with Title VI. The directive from the Department of Education is based on a belief, outlined in the "Dear Colleague" letter, that the Students v. Harvard ruling can be broadly applied to any educational programing that treats people differently based on race, including scholarships, financial aid, administrative support, housing and graduation ceremonies. The agency said it would vigorously enforce that interpretation and that states and districts that did not comply could lose federal funding. Some states have signed the letter, about a dozen have declined and others, like Vermont, have certified compliance but told the administration they disagree with the premise. Maine is also facing the loss of its federal funding through an ongoing disagreement with the Trump administration over transgender athlete policies and Title IX. The Justice Department sued the state last week, seeking to stop athletes from competing, and said it was beginning the process of terminating federal education funds to the state. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland school districts try workaround to Trump order to cut DEI, but judge makes it moot for now
Maryland schools will not be required to sign a certification of compliance with the U.S. Department of Education's demand to cut diversity, equity and inclusion — for now — but had planned a workaround to avoid signing anyway. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's mandate against DEI efforts in public schools, which they argue is as illegal based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. In February, the Department of Education sent a letter to state department of education demanding schools remove DEI from 'all aspects of student life' or lose all federal funding. This year, the Maryland State Department of Education received a total of $285.6 million in federal funds. That letter was followed up on April 3 with a letter insisting all local school superintendents sign the certification, setting a deadline to return the document by Thursday. While other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Wisconsin, refused to sign the certification point-blank, Maryland's Department of Education was considering returning an alternative certification. In an April 7 memo obtained by The Baltimore Sun, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright asked local superintendents to sign an alternative certification, hoping it will allow them to retain federal funding without dismantling DEI programs. State officials revised the certification to say only that school districts are in 'full compliance' with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and do not discriminate based on 'race, color and national origin.' The federal government's proposed certification letter goes further than Wright's alternative. It requires schools to 'acknowledge…compliance with the below' — apparently referring to a section later in the document that says, 'any violation of Title VI — including the use of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ('DEI') programs to advantage one's race over another — is impermissible,' and 'the use of certain DEI practices can violate federal law.' In the memo to Maryland superintendents, Wright appeared to question whether the federal department's original certification would hold up in court. 'I disagree with the [U.S. Department of Education's] current interpretation of Title VI and its view of SFFA v. Harvard University and the certification required,' Wright wrote. 'While [the Maryland State Department of Education] is unaware of any legal authority obligating it to comply with USDE's request, MSDE is reaffirming its commitment to complying with Title VI and other relevant federal laws.' Wright wrote that the federal memo does not clearly outline the purpose or legal authority of the request. The state department advised districts to consult with their attorneys before signing the certification or taking other action. A few Maryland districts have said they signed Wright's certification, though the state education department declined to comment on whether they would be sending the certifications along to the federal department. The Howard County Public School System signed the alternative certification, according to district Communications Director Brian W. Bassett, who did not comment about the reasons for the decision. Carrol County Public Schools also signed the alternative certification, a spokesperson said Thursday. Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County schools did not respond to emails asking whether they signed the certification. It is unclear whether the federal government would have accepted Maryland's modified version, if MSDE does send the letter. The Department of Education did not respond to questions Thursday. The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, which accused the Republican administration of violating teachers' due process and First Amendment rights. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Bridget Byrne at bbyrne@ or 443-690-7205. Contact Mary Carole McCauley at mmccauley@ and 410-332-6704.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Air Force Academy no longer considering race in admissions
The Air Force Academy has axed affirmative action in its admissions, the government said in a recent court filing. Students for Fair Admissions, which won the Supreme Court case in 2023 that took away race-conscious admissions in public universities, sued the military academies after the justices said their ruling does not apply to those institutions. The Justice Department said in a Thursday court filing for the case that on Feb. 6, acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Gwendolyn R. DeFilippi issued a memorandum stating 'quotas, objectives, and goals based on sex, race or ethnicity for organizational composition, academic admission, career fields, or class composition' were eliminated. The court filing was first reported by Reuters. The move comes a month after the Naval Academy also ended affirmative action in its admissions process. President Trump signed an order early in his second term banning all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at government institutions. The executive order has affected other aspects of the military academies such as the Naval Academy removing books related to DEI from its library and the Air Force Academy and West Point has said it is ready to review its titles if needed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Air Force Academy no longer considering race in admissions
The Air Force Academy has axed affirmative action in its admissions, the government said in a recent court filing. Students for Fair Admissions, which won the Supreme Court case in 2023 that took away race-conscious admissions in public universities, had sued the military academies after the justices said their ruling does not apply to those institutions. The Justice Department said in a Thursday court filing for the case that on Feb. 6 the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Gwendolyn R. DeFilippi issued a memorandum stating 'quotas, objectives, and goals based on sex, race or ethnicity for organizational composition, academic admission, career fields, or class composition' were eliminated. The court filing was first reported by Reuters. The move comes a month after the Naval Academy also ended affirmative action in its admissions process. President Trump signed an order early in his second term banning all diversity, equity and inclusion programs at government institutions. The executive order has affected other aspects of the military academies such as the Naval Academy removing books related to DEI from its library and the Air Force Academy and West Point has said it is ready to review its titles if needed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DPI reviewing Trump administration request that schools certify compliance with diversity ban
"We remain confident Wisconsin schools and the DPI are in full compliance with the law," DPI Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement. Underly at a rally in February. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is reviewing a request by the Trump administration that state education agencies ensure they aren't using diversity, equity and inclusion programs — or risk losing federal funding. According to WisPolitics, state Superintendent Jill Underly said the agency is looking at the U.S. Department of Education's 'justification and authority to request sign off from Wisconsin schools on the federal agency's political beliefs.' 'Now more than ever, Wisconsin's students, educators and schools need support – not threats of federal funding cuts that are vital to their success,' Underly said in a statement. 'As we stated in February, we remain confident Wisconsin schools and the DPI are in full compliance with the law and remain committed to providing the best education possible for our students.' In a letter, the Department of Education said that state agencies need to certify their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the responsibilities outlined in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard — the landmark Supreme Court decision that said race-based programs in higher education violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and effectively ended consideration of race in admissions programs. 'Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,' Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. 'When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal antidiscrimination requirements. Unfortunately, we have seen too many schools flout or outright violate these obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI.' The request comes as a part of President Donald Trump's ongoing attack on DEI efforts across the country. State agencies were given 10 days to collect certification from local education agencies and respond, according to the release. Underly, who was reelected to a second term this week, also urged state lawmakers Wednesday to invest in Wisconsin's public schools amid the threat of funding cuts by the federal government. 'An unprecedented number of our school districts have been forced to turn to referenda, asking their communities to raise property taxes just to compensate for the state's underfunding. On top of that, the Trump administration's reckless cuts threaten the critical federal funding that Wisconsin schools depend on,' Underly said at a public hearing held by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee in Kaukana. Underly was not invited for an agency briefing before the committee, so she traveled to deliver her message at the public hearing. Her requests for state investment include increasing the state's special education reimbursement for schools, funding universal free school meals and investing in mental health supports for students. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
