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3w ago

Trump Administration Gives Public Schools 10 Days to End DEI Programs or Lose Federal Funding

The Department of Education's directive threatens Title I funding for low-income districts, citing civil rights laws and a Supreme Court ruling.

A view shows the U.S.Department of Education building during a Defend Our Schools rally to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order to shut down the department, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
Protesters in support of affirmative action face counter-protesters in front of the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
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President Donald Trump waves after an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Overview

  • The Trump administration issued a memo requiring state education agencies to certify within 10 days that schools have eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs deemed discriminatory under federal law.
  • Schools that fail to comply risk losing federal funding, including Title I grants critical for supporting low-income students and districts.
  • The directive is based on the administration's interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
  • Critics, including civil rights advocates and legal experts, argue that this interpretation is overly broad and could undermine efforts to address systemic inequities in education.
  • State and local officials have expressed concerns over the financial and operational impact of the ultimatum, with some districts considering legal challenges.