California Holds the Line on DEI as Trump Administration Threatens School Funding 


California education leaders are pushing back against the Trump administration’s directive to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in its K-12 public schools — despite threats to take away billions in federal funding. 

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media 

California education leaders are pushing back against the Trump administration’s directive to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in its K-12 public schools — despite threats to take away billions in federal funding. 

The conflict began on Feb. 14, when Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), issued a “Dear Colleague” letter warning that DEI-related programs in public schools could violate federal civil rights law. The letter, which cited Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended race-conscious admissions, ordered schools to eliminate race-based considerations in areas such as admissions, scholarships, hiring, discipline, and student programming. 

According to Trainor, “DEI programs discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.” 

On April 3, the DOE escalated the pressure, sending a follow-up letter to states demanding that every local educational agency (LEA) certify –within 10 business days — that they were not using federal funds to support “illegal DEI.” The certification requirement, tied to continued federal aid, raised the stakes for California, which receives more than $16 billion annually in federal education funding. 

So far, California has refused to comply with the DOE order. 

“There is nothing in state or federal law that outlaws the broad concepts of ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ or ‘inclusion,’” wrote David Schapira, California’s Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, in an April 4 letter to superintendents and charter school administrators. Schapira noted that all of California’s more than 1,000 traditional public school districts submit Title VI compliance assurances annually and are subject to regular oversight by the state and the federal government. 

In a formal response to the DOE on April 11, the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond collectively rejected the certification demand, calling it vague, legally unsupported, and procedurally improper. 

“California and its nearly 2,000 LEAs (including traditional public schools and charter schools) have already provided the requisite guarantee that its programs and services are, and will be, in compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulation,” the letter says. 

Thurmond added in a statement, “Today, California affirmed existing and continued compliance with federal laws while we stay the course to move the needle for all students. As our responses to the United States Department of Education state and as the plain text of state and federal laws affirm, there is nothing unlawful about broad core values such as diversity, equity and inclusion. I am proud of our students, educators and school communities who continue to focus on teaching and learning, despite federal actions intended to distract and disrupt.” 

California officials say that the federal government cannot change existing civil rights enforcement standards without going through formal rule-making procedures, which require public notice and comment. 

Other states are taking a similar approach. In a letter to the DOE, Daniel Morton-Bentley, deputy commissioner and counsel for the New York State Education Department, wrote, “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 DEI.” 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has also condemned the directive, arguing that federal civil rights laws do not prohibit race-conscious initiatives designed to ensure inclusion and opportunity. Bonta reaffirmed that DEI efforts remain legal and essential for addressing systemic inequities in education. 

Meanwhile, at least one local school board in California has decided to comply independently. Chino Valley Unified School District, led by conservative board president Sonja Shaw, bypassed the state and submitted the federal certification directly. 

“This was a no-brainer for us,” Shaw said. “Our focus remains where it belongs — on reading, writing, math and achieving the best outcomes for our students… not in the ideologies and divisiveness that the state of California, [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and his cronies continue to push.” 

While Chino Valley’s action is notable, there is currently no evidence that a number of California school boards have submitted certifications in defiance of state guidance. 

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said his district receives more than $1 billion in federal funding each year, supporting vital services like free meals, mental health counselors, and classroom aides. While LAUSD welcomes oversight, he said the Trump administration’s directive conflicts with state rules on race and gender — and that educators are both legally and morally obligated to protect students’ rights. 

“We are morally compelled and legally required,” Carvalho said, “to protect their rights.” 

Legal observers expect the conflict to end up in court. The NAACP and civil rights groups have already filed lawsuits against the DOE, arguing that the certification demand is unconstitutional and discriminates against schools serving students of color. 

As the April 24 certification deadline approaches, California officials say they will uphold DEI values and challenge any federal attempt to condition funding on their removal.