BRATTLEBORO-Windham County educators and community members have been quick to stand up for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and programs in schools in response to a series of actions at the state level in recent days.
On April 4, state Agency of Education (AOE) Secretary Zoie Saunders directed superintendents to certify compliance with federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin in federally funded programs, per the Trump administration's initiative.
Specifically, Saunders asked districts to assert compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which "prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance," according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
With new federal directives to interpret antidiscrimination efforts as harmful to caucasian people, the memo generated a backlash, and in a subsequent memo, she and state Attorney General Charity Clark affirmed the state's commitment to DEI and Vermont's legal prerogative to determine its education policy.
Yet that same memo concluded that the state's top priority would be to protect federal funding for education - which the Trump administration has threatened to withhold from states that do not dismantle DEI initiatives.
And then, Gov. Phil Scott weighed in, blaming activists for misinformation and urging Vermonters to "not allow ourselves to be distracted or live in a constant state of fear, anger, or outrage over the next 45 months."
WSESD affirms commitment to inclusion
"Hands Off Vermont Education," "Inclusion Means Everyone Is Welcome," "Don't Ruin My School," and "Include Everyone" were just some of the handmade signs both children and adults waved in the aftermath of the Saunders memo.
Michelle Luetjen Green, former chair of the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board and current co-chair of the Dummerston Leadership Council, said in a memo that Saunders "implied it's simply confirming we are following the law, as we always have, but the office of civil liberties, through the Department of Education, clearly spells out that DEI programs, social emotional objectives, and even teaching history could be a violation if it makes someone feel bad about what their ancestors did."
"This is not what is best for children," Luetjen Green posted on social media. "It's not best practice or informed or supported by our educators. Our Vermont state teachers' union has rejected this directive and I believe we will continue to hear strong stances come from leadership across the state."
President Donald Trump began issuing executive orders to dismantle programs shortly after taking office, putting pressure on federal contractors to end "illegal DEI discrimination" and directing federal agencies to make lists of private companies that could be investigated for DEI policies.
"We have ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and, indeed, the private sector and our military," Trump said in an address to a March 4 joint session of Congress. "And our country will be 'woke' no longer."
On April 7, Windham Southeast Superintendent Mark Speno posted a statement on the district website "to reaffirm our district's unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion."
"These values are not simply statements on paper, they are the foundation of the culture we strive to build every day in our classrooms, hallways, and communities," Speno wrote. "I am incredibly proud of the work our educators, students, and staff have undertaken to ensure that every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
"From curriculum enhancements that reflect the diverse voices of our world, to student-led initiatives that promote empathy and understanding, our district continues to demonstrate what it means to lead with purpose and compassion. We recognize that the journey toward a more just and equitable school community is ongoing. It requires reflection, action, and partnership.
"I am grateful to our families, educators, and community members for being active participants in this journey," Speno continued.
Explaining it away?
Also on April 7, Saunders and Clark issued a joint statement "affirming support for the Civil Rights Act" in responding to the initial response to Saunders' Title VI certification request.
"The political rhetoric around this federal directive is designed to create outrage in our communities, confusion in our schools, and self-censorship in our policy making," it read.
"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.
"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."
The memo cited as example the Trump administration's issuance of 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."
"These descriptions could not be further from the truth of what takes place in Vermont classrooms," the joint memo continues.
Clark and Saunders pointed out that in Vermont, DEI practices are "about being supportive of all students to create and sustain positive, welcoming learning environments."
They also noted that "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," they said.
"We will not give in to misleading and damaging myths about diversity, equity and inclusion work," Clark and Saunders continued. "Nor will we allow these myths to distract us from our commitment to creating inclusive environments where students feel they belong and know they are supported by their educators."
Clark reinforced these sentiments, saying, "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.
She asserted that Vermont state laws "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."
The joint memo noted that the AOE and the AGO would continue reviewing the federal request.
"Our priorities are to safeguard federal dollars that our highest need communities depend on and to support the Vermont values that make our public education system so special," Clark and Saunders said.
Not so fast
Many held firm, however, that the verbiage used in the compliance memo was an "attempt to hijack and reinterpret the Civil Rights Act for nefarious and highly dangerous reasons," as Luetjen Green put it.
"This move takes Vermont backward, demonstrating the weakness and anti-equity stance that had so many worried about Ms. Saunders' appointment," she wrote, advocating that others also "demand the Vermont AOE do its job and have the integrity to work alongside New York, Maine, and Massachusetts, who all said 'no' to this demand."
Following the swift action by local school leaders to organize rallies, write letters, and call the office of Gov. Phil Scott, Luetjen Green said she's proud of her community "for defending state rights, representing our values, aligning with educators and educational leadership, and being clear that we will not politicize our schools and engage with rhetoric that does not align with our educational standards and values."
"Our schools are not a battle ground for an un-American, discriminatory culture war," she said. "We follow best practice and do what's best for all our kids."
Windham Southeast School District board member Tim Maciel said DEI, "isn't about grievance" in schools.
"It's about fairness," he said, adding that creating a sense of belonging is a primary objective in district schools this year. "It's not a rigid ideology. It's a framework for identifying and addressing barriers to student success."
Scott, ACLU clash over response
But Scott also issued a statement following the outcry, urging restraint amid the chaos unleashed by the federal government since Trump returned to the presidency.
"The reality is that we've been asked to verify we comply with existing federal civil rights laws and our Democratic attorney general agrees with our assessment," Scott said, alleging that activists are engendering "more fear and anxiety throughout our education system" and spreading erroneous information.
"My office heard from hundreds of parents and educators - all of whom had been given inaccurate information or, worse, misled," he said. "To move the nation past the chaos Washington is causing, we need to rise above it and lead by example."
ACLU Vermont Executive Director James Lyall had a different perspective than the governor's.
"The people of Vermont have been outspoken in calling on their elected leaders to stick up for Vermont's laws, values, and communities," Lyall said in an April 10 statement.
"Now, more than ever, we must be unified in defending our democracy from existential threats. The Trump administration's goal here is no secret: it has openly announced its intention to brazenly weaponize Title VI as leverage to coerce schools into abandoning speech, ideas, and practices the administration does not like through an interpretation of the statute that prohibits DEI."
That's why, Lyall said, the ACLU has sued the Department of Education "for its unlawful campaign to rewrite the law."
"This attempt to certify 'compliance' with Title VI is not, as the Governor suggests, 'business as usual,'" he wrote. "As our neighboring states have recognized, it is a cynical attempt to gain leverage over schools and teachers."
Lyall said that the ACLU urges Scott "to follow their lead and reject this attempt to undermine our laws and values."
Lyall goes on to note that Vermonters' support for Scott "has derived in large part from his willingness to oppose - in both words and deeds - the dangerous excesses of the Trump administration that threaten our state and our country."
"We hope that he does that, and that he takes responsibility for his administration's missteps, rather than shifting blame onto his constituents, the people of Vermont who care deeply about our education system and our democracy. That is what leadership would look like here."
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.