By Paul Bean
Vermont’s Secretary of Education and Attorney General have issued a joint statement saying Vermont schools need not and will not make any changes to comply with President Trump’s executive orders that require public schools nationwide to remove DEI initiatives.
“Our priority is to protect Vermont’s values, preserve essential federal funding, and support schools in creating positive school environments free from the type of bullying and manipulation we see in our national politics today,” wrote Secretary Zoie Saunders in response to an April 3 letter sent from the U.S. Department of Education that warned that noncompliance with the Trump administration’s DEI programming ban could result in schools losing federal funding.
“Nothing about this directive requires a change to our diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and we’re not going to change. It is critical to be calm, confident, and clear eyed about the difference between lawful education initiatives and political rhetoric,” continued the joint statement.
“For example, the Trump administration has issued several executive orders that characterize DEI as practices that shame or exclude students of majority groups, calling supportive mental health and school climate initiatives ‘veiled discriminatory practices’ and accusing schools of assigning less value to certain students because of their race.”
The letter says that the pressure from the administration is not in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, “which is the existing law prohibiting race-based discrimination in schools that Vermont schools have followed for decades.”
“These descriptions could not be further from the truth of what takes place in Vermont classrooms,” continues Saunders, “In Vermont, diversity, equity and inclusion practices are about being supportive of all students to create and sustain positive, welcoming learning environments.”
The letter also questions the legality of Trump’s executive orders and assures readers that instruction in Vermont schools is perfectly legal. “Importantly, none of President Trump’s executive orders are legally binding related to instruction in Vermont classrooms. The Agency of Education continues to provide information to the field, reassuring school districts that current initiatives, which are perfectly legal as a matter of state and federal law, can and should continue.”
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark echoed Secretary Saunders’ legal concerns on the validity of President Trump’s executive orders. “Vermont has been following the law, will follow the law, and we will continue to protect Vermonters against any unlawful actions by the federal government,” said Clark. “I also want to remind Vermonters that Vermont has our own state laws that offer greater protections for students, employees, and the general public, and we will enforce those with equal vigor as well. A change in administration in Washington doesn’t change Vermont’s sovereign right to educate its children consistent with the laws.”
Cover photo of Vermont Pride Flag by prideflag.com