By COLLIN BINKLEY | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — As a condition for receiving federal money, the Trump administration is ordering K-12 schools to certify that they are following federal civil rights laws and eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
A notice sent Thursday by the Education Department gives states and schools 10 days to sign and return the certification. It’s the latest escalation against DEI policies, apparently giving the Republican administration a new lever for terminating federal money.
Related Articles
California’s schools chief has a $200,000 salary and a Bay Area side gig California school security guard fired after allegations she forced student to duct tape mouth Fremont teacher union threatens possible strike School district budget cuts get closer look by Richmond council Trump administration targets California sex ed program“Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement. He said many schools have flouted their legal obligations, “including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.”
The certification asks state and school leaders to sign a “reminder of legal obligations” acknowledging their federal money is conditioned on compliance with federal civil rights laws. It also demands compliance with several pages of legal analysis written by the administration.
“The use of certain DEI practices can violate federal law,” the administration wrote in the certification, adding that it is illegal for programs to advantage one race over another.
Schools and states that use illegal DEI practices can face a loss of federal money, including grants and contracts, and can be held liable under the False Claims Act, according to the certification. It specifically threatens Title I funding, which sends billions of dollars a year to America’s schools and targets low-income areas.
The department ordered state education offices to sign the certification and collect certifications from school systems.
It follows a Feb. 14 memo declaring that any school policy that treats students or staff differently because of their race is illegal. It aimed to fight what the memo described as widespread discrimination in education, often against white and Asian American students.
___
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, Trump administration says )
Also on site :
- Bomb threat reported at Aurora’s Liberty Middle School
- As markets melt down, Trump touts $5m gold card for wealthy immigrants (featuring his face)
- Dodgers Place Freddie Freeman On Injured List