K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, administration says

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

- by Collin Binkley AP Education Writer

As a condition for receiving federal money, the Trump administration has ordered K-12 schools to certify that they are following federal civil rights laws and ending any discriminatory 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.

"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.