States Push to Limit DEI Initiatives in Education

Legislative efforts in Kansas, Alabama, and elsewhere aim to restrict diversity programs, sparking debate over civil rights and educational freedom.

Kansas lawmakers, along with those in at least 20 other states, are pushing to restrict DEI initiatives in universities, arguing they enforce a liberal political orthodoxy.
Alabama's GOP-controlled legislature has passed a bill that would limit DEI programs in public schools, universities, and state agencies, set to take effect on October 1 if signed by Governor Kay Ivey.
The Kansas bill aims to prevent universities from requiring DEI statements for admission or employment, setting up a process for DEI complaints and allowing for civil lawsuits against non-compliant institutions.
Critics argue these measures could undo decades of civil rights advancements and are part of a broader conservative effort to restrict education on race, sex, and gender.
Civil rights groups and Democrats have condemned the bills, with some calling them 'educational gag orders' and a step back in race relations and social justice.