Trump Administration Mandates Anti-DEI Certification for K-12 Schools to Retain Federal Funding

Schools have 10 days to comply with new federal directives or risk losing Title I funds for low-income students.

The Trump administration is requiring K-12 schools to certify compliance with anti-DEI policies to continue receiving federal funding, including Title I funds for low-income students.
The Department of Education issued a directive on April 3, 2025, giving schools and states 10 days to submit signed certifications aligning with federal civil rights laws.
The certification form includes a legal analysis asserting that certain DEI practices violate federal law by favoring one race over another.
Noncompliance could lead to financial penalties and liability under the False Claims Act, according to the administration's directive.
This move builds on earlier efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives, citing the 2023 Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action as a legal basis.