New York’s stance differed from the muted and deferential responses from other major institutions to the administration’s threats.

The New York State Education Department on Friday issued a defiant response to the Trump administration’s threats to pull federal funding from public schools over certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a remarkable departure from the conciliatory approach of other institutions in recent weeks.

Daniel Morton-Bentley, the deputy commissioner for legal affairs at the state education agency in New York, wrote in a letter to federal education officials that “we understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion.’”

“But there are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of D.E.I.,” Mr. Morton-Bentley wrote, adding that the federal government has not defined what practices it believes violate civil rights protections.

The stern letter was sent one day after the federal government issued a memo to education officials across the nation, asking them to confirm the elimination of all programs it argues unfairly promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Title I funding for schools with high percentages of low-income students was at risk pending compliance, federal officials said.

New York’s stance differed from the muted and often deferential responses across academia and other major institutions to the Trump administration’s threats. Some universities have quietly scrubbed diversity websites and canceled events to comply with executive orders — and to avoid the ire of the White House.

  • Jolly Platypus@lemm.eeEnglish
    56·
    3 days ago

    Good. All blue states and people who believe in democracy need to tell this government to fuck off at every opportunity.

    • dryfter@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      I’m torn on this because I love that blue states are standing up for DEI. But, like, kids are already suffering enough especially in Rochester which already is ranked one of the worst school districts in the country based on test scores and graduation rates. The teens are already out of control on crime sprees ands joy rides (some young as 11 and 12)here thanks to these kids having nothing better to do than get into gangs due to peer pressure.

      If NY state has a backup plan to at least maintain funding levels for schools once federal funding gets cut I’d feel better about this. Spoiler alert: they don’t. They’re also forcing all school districts in the state to switch to electric buses amidst all this new crap going on.

      The only people who will suffer from this decision are the students and the communities that will have to put up with even more crime sprees and joy rides. But I guess in war, causalities will happen whether we like it or not.

  • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
    22·
    3 days ago

    Finally, an entity with balls. Columbia capitulating was such a blow. Not sure if Harvard has made a decision yet. These intuitions are supposed to stand for progress and education.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 days ago

      I also hope Harvard does the right thing but they’re being shaken down for a lot of money. Doing the right thing is not financially prudent.

      My personal stake is the hit to Children’s Hospital. My kid survived cancer, where federal funding supported a long term study by Harvard that reversed the odds of surviveability . Over more than a decade of improvements to care, the odds went from 90% fatality to 90% survival. We can not afford to lose progress like this over some old man’s spite and vanity

    • kautau@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 days ago

      While I agree with the sentiment, you’re comparing the New York State Education system with two private for-profit Ivy League colleges. Every for profit Ivy League college will capitulate. The bigger question is if other State Education departments turn down federal funding in the interest of better serving the public