WASHINGTON (AP) – Several democratically-led states and cities are pushing back the Trump administration The threat of cutting education funds Beyond diversity, equity and inclusive programs, we create standoffs that allow us to test how far the White House is moving towards its national school demands.
Minnesota state leaders new york They said they would not comply with the education department to collect signatures from local school systems certifying compliance with civil rights laws, including refusing to what the federal government calls “illegal DEI practices.” The Chicago mayor has pledged to sue any cut. California and Vermont said they don’t need to respond to schools.
That corresponds to some of the most powerful opposition the education sector has faced as it uses federal funds as leverage to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda on issues from the DEI. Campus Anti-Semitism And transgender athletes. The White House is targeting universities. Heavily relies on federal grants and contractsthe school system gets the majority of the money from state and local sources.
In a letter to the Education Department on Monday, Minnesota’s education director said the Trump administration has stepped over its authority with the latest demand and added that there is nothing illegal about DEI.
“The threat to this funding without law or established requirements puts students and schools at risk of being reliant on daily basis,” said Willie Jett, Minnesota Board of Education. The Federal Bureau “does not have the authority to unilaterally overturn Congress’ will.”
Jett said his letter “helps us in our response” to the Trump administration’s demands.
This follows Friday’s letter from the New York Department of Education, which challenges the latest federal demand. New York has already said it is in compliance with federal law and provides assurance that “no further certification is planned.”
The U.S. Department of Education told state agencies in a letter Thursday that they must sign documents that they will obtain the same assurance from schools in accordance with federal differentiation laws. The document threatens to cut federal funds for civil rights violations. Use DEI practices “You give your race better than others.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Tuesday I praised Puerto Rico By submitting the certification first. “All states in states that want to continue federal funding should follow that,” McMahon posted on X.
The letter does not have any legal forces and threatens to use civil rights enforcement to fire school practices. Schools that continue such practices “in violation of federal law” said they could face the Department of Justice’s lawsuit and the termination of federal grants and contracts.
The letter initially gave the state ten days to submit accreditation. On Monday, the Department of Education extended the deadline until April 24th.
A department spokesperson said the agency “is simply asking the district to prove that the district is following the law and does not use racial preferences or racial stereotypes in the school.”
Even some Republican-led states don’t think schools need to obtain documents signed by them. The Missouri Department of Education said the schools would previously provide assurances that they should cover departmental requests and would reach out to the district “if additional information is needed.”
Others who are moving to follow the orders, including Virginia and Arizona, said state education chief Tom Horn “is in perfect alignment with my philosophy.”
Vermont’s education director assured schools that the state supports DEI practices and said the superintendents do not need to sign accreditation. Instead, the state will ensure federal officials are already following federal law, state education secretary Zoa Sanders said in a letter to the school district on Monday.
The Illinois Board of Education rebuked federal agencies “even though they are “attempting to exert power on every district in the country — despite claiming that they are returning education to the state.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said his city is willing to go to court via orders.
Both New York and Minnesota letters praise the virtues of diversity and inclusion, citing past comments from Trump’s Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos during their first term. In a 2020 memo to agency staff, DeVos wrote, “Employing diversity and inclusion is a key component of success.” The state argues that the education sector is changing its position without explanation.
The state has also accused the education sector of making broad declarations about the illegality of DEIs without citing policies that violate federal law. The Minnesota letter stated that if federal agencies identify DEI practices that violate civil rights laws, “we will request their advice.”
Many states said they were still reviewing the letter.
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