Chicago – April 03, 2025
The Trump administration has announced a new rule that could affect public schools across the United States. The U.S. Education Department, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, sent out a letter to state leaders warning them that schools might lose some federal money if they have programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
This decision involves Title I funding, which is important money that helps schools with many low-income students. The Education Department says that any school program that favors one race over another could be breaking civil rights laws. Because of this, schools need to check their programs and make sure they are not breaking these rules.
To prove they are following the rules, schools and states must sign a letter that comes with the Education Department’s memo and send it back within 10 days.
This is not the first time the Education Department has sent letters like this. Previous letters discussed topics like student privacy, the end of COVID relief funds for schools, and advice on how parents can choose schools for their kids. In February, the Education Department also told schools to stop using race as a factor in decisions like who gets admitted or receives scholarships.
