Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Healey administration rejected a request from the U.S. Department of Education to certify that they will eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Massachusetts public schools and colleges.
The Department of Education sent a letter to state commissioners overseeing K-12 state education agencies last week threatening to withhold federal funding if the agencies fail to comply with the Trump administration's order.
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In a responding letter sent Wednesday, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick A. Tutwiler wrote the state's "programs—and the principles underlying our programs—are fully compliant with Title VI [of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.]"
"We know that having people of diverse perspectives and backgrounds—as educators, administrators, and leaders in our education system—is a strength, not a flaw," Tutwiler wrote. "It is a reason for our success, not a barrier to it. Consistent with longstanding federal law, Massachusetts will continue to promote diversity in our schools because we know it improves outcomes for all of our kids, and we have more work to do."
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union, applauded Tutwiler's decision to reject the DoE's request.
"The Trump administration’s attempt to blackmail states into abandoning their commitments to embracing the full diversity of students and educators furthers this president’s continued attacks on public education," the union said in a statement. "The administration’s tactics harm students, families and communities and must be resisted, which Governor Maura Healey’s administration did today.
"The MTA is pleased that Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler refused to sign a chilling order that demanded our public schools dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs. We believe this order is constitutionally illegal as well as educationally immoral. We in the Massachusetts Teachers Association will always defend the rights of students to learn and the full academic freedom of educators to teach."
Speaking with WBZ NewsRadio Wednesday afternoon, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang said, "[We] fully support the message, which is that diversity is a strength in the commonwealth, and that we are already in compliance with antidiscrimination regulations."
Tang said it would be catastrophic for schools across Massachusetts to lose federal funding.
"We're talking about $289 million for Title I schools," Tang said. "That's funding that serves 425,000 students across the commonwealth."