WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Department of Education (DoE) sent a letter last week directing federally-funded institutions no longer to consider race and diversity in admissions, hiring and scholarship decisions, among other things.
The directive comes on the heels of other efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate federal funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives across the country.
Educational institutions, including those related to pre-K, K-12 and higher education, that are not compliant with the DoE’s directive risk losing federal support.
“For decades, schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race. No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment, and character—not prejudged by the color of their skin,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a statement.
The “Dear Colleague” letter calls the United States’ history of systemic and structural racism a “false premise” and claims educational institutions have “toxically indoctrinated students.”
“It will have a chilling effect on discussions of race, both in admissions materials and in the classroom,” Scott Michelman, Legal Director at the ACLU of the District of Columbia, said in an interview with DC News Now.
Going forward, the DoE said the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision overturning race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions would apply more broadly to elementary, middle and high schools.
“By allowing this principle to guide vigorous enforcement efforts, the Trump Education Department will ensure that America’s educational institutions will again embrace merit, equality of opportunity, and academic and professional excellence,” the DoE stated.
Federal law thus prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.
Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race.
The Department of Education’s ‘Dear Colleague’ letter
Michelman said the letter suggests people shouldn’t celebrate their diversity or teach about structural racism in the classroom.
“A diverse America … benefits everyone when we all have access to education,” he said.
Not only does the order have implications for higher education institutions and universities in the region, but will also impact K-12 schools in D.C., Maryland and Virginia that receive federal funds.
“The DMV has a proudly diverse community,” Michelman stated, which makes the directive especially relevant to parents, teachers and students in the region.
More than half (55%) of the students enrolled in the 117 public schools in D.C. during the 2023-2024 school year were Black according to DC Public Schools (DCPS) enrollment demographics. Twenty-two percent were Hispanic and 17% were white.
Traditional public schools and public charter schools received 18% of funding from the federal government, according to the DCPS FY 2023 budget, as noted by the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute.
Although a majority of DCPS’ funding does not come from the federal government, losing federal financing would have potentially significant impacts.
In Maryland, the federal government provides 3.4% of the money used to fund Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
As of Tuesday afternoon, it was not clear how the DoE’s letter would impact classrooms in local school districts or whether parents, students or staff had received any further instruction from the DoE.
In a statement, a Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson said the following:
Fairfax County Public Schools is reviewing this communication.
Our school division remains committed to fostering a safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive school environment for all students and staff and celebrating our diversity as a strength.
Fairfax County Public Schools
DC News Now reached out to multiple public school districts and divisions across the region but did not hear back in time for publication.
Institutions were ordered to comply within 14 days of receiving the directive. The final date to do that would be Feb. 28.
