Connecticut will not be bowing to Trump’s orders regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, on Feb. 14, the Trump Administration imposed a strict two-week timeline for schools and universities to comply with his orders around DEI such as no longer allowing “racial preferences” to be considered in admissions, financial aid, or hiring.
“Educational institutions may neither separate nor segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” the memo read.
Failure to comply could risk the loss of federal funding, particularly around Title 1 funding, which supports underserved families. Harvard University is currently under a $2.3 billion federal freeze for pushing back.
“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government,” a letter penned from the Ivy League school read. “Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle. Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration.”
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has since extended the deadline to April 24 for K-12 schools to show certified compliance, CT Insider reports.
Now Connecticut has made a stand, stating it is not interested in adhering to Trump’s orders and will not sign the DOE’s letter of compliance, according to the outlet. The state “already does and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” it said in a news release.
“Connecticut remains committed to safeguarding Connecticut students against the insidious effects of discrimination and continues to align its principles and programs with the requirements and purpose of Title VI, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin,” Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker wrote in an letter to the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights on April 15.
One day later, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont commented:
“In Connecticut, we’re proud to support the incredible diversity of our schools and work tirelessly to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to a quality education and the best opportunity at the starting line in life. From our educators, who are mentoring and inspiring the next generation of young people, to our curriculum, our commitment to education is what has made our schools nationally recognized, and we plan to continue doing what makes our students, teachers, and schools successful.”
The state is now at risk of losing federal dollars. It received $1.1 billion in federal funds in 2023 for K-12 education.
“Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” said Craig Trainor, the DOE’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, in an April 3 press release. “When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal antidiscrimination requirements. Unfortunately, we have seen too many schools flout or outright violate these obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI.”
