Massachusetts’s interim commissioner of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, has sent a powerful message to the Trump administration in response to its attempts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools. Tutwiler emphasized that the state will continue to promote diversity in education as it benefits all children and is crucial for improved outcomes. This response was supported by both of the state’s teachers unions, who expressed solidarity with Tutwiler and criticized the administration’s attempts to control curriculum and withhold federal funding as coercive measures.
The Trump administration had recently circulated a memo requiring states to certify their compliance with antidiscrimination obligations to continue receiving federal financial assistance. This requirement included compliance with Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act and a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that abolished Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policy. Federal civil rights official Craig Trainor warned states that federal financial assistance is a privilege dependent on compliance with these obligations.
Tutwiler highlighted Massachusetts’s success in education, with students achieving the highest scores in math and reading on the NAEP tests. He emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the education system, stating that it enhances outcomes for all students. The Massachusetts Teachers Association supported Tutwiler’s stance, rejecting the administration’s order to eliminate diversity programs and defending the rights of students to learn and educators to teach freely. The union concluded that the potential loss of the state’s identity as a diverse and inclusive educational system outweighs any financial threats from the federal government.
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