Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Healey, Campbell release guidance to schools encouraging DEI efforts despite Trump edicts
Gov. Maura Healey said the guidance sends a clear message: “Massachusetts is going to stay true to who we are.”
Amid a federal upheaval of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, a defiant Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell are encouraging Massachusetts schools to continue their work fostering DEI and accessibility.
The pair issued joint guidance to higher education and K-12 schools Wednesday, saying DEI initiatives are backed by “longstanding legal precedent” — even if the Trump administration says otherwise. Recent directives from President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Education do not override “existing law and well-established legal principles that encourage — and even require — schools to promote educational opportunity for students of all backgrounds,” the guidance states.
Advertisement:
In a statement, Healey said she and Campbell issued the guidance to send a clear message: “Massachusetts is going to stay true to who we are.”
“We believe that bringing people of different backgrounds and perspectives to the table — including women, People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community — is a strength, especially in education,” Healey continued. “We are committed to working closely with our incredible schools, colleges and universities to support all of our students.”
More on DEI:
The guidance puts Massachusetts at odds with the Trump administration, which has sought to roll back federal support for DEI initiatives (though a judge on Friday largely blocked executive orders that would do so). In a Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” letter, the U.S. Department of Education alleged DEI programs “frequently preference certain racial groups and teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not.” On Thursday, the department also launched a new online portal, EndDEI.Ed.Gov, to encourage parents and others to report schools for “potential areas for investigation.”
Advertisement:
The announcement includes a quote from the co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has fought against mentions of race and LGBTQ+ identity in classrooms throughout the U.S. In her statement, Tiffany Justice claimed parents have been mocked or ignored when raising concerns about schools “pushing critical theory, rogue sex education and divisive ideologies.”
“Parents, now is the time that you share the receipts of the betrayal that has happened in our public schools,” she added. “This webpage demonstrates that President Trump’s Department of Education is putting power back in the hands of parents.”
Campbell had a different take, saying in a statement, “Despite the Trump Administration’s continued attempts to create confusion and anxiety, the law has not changed, and schools must continue their work to make sure that every student, regardless of background, can access educational opportunities in the Commonwealth.”
According to the governor’s office, the joint guidance includes steps K-12 schools can take “to set their students up for success” and indicates schools “should continue to take affirmative steps, within the law, to create and maintain a positive school climate where all students feel safe, supported, respected and ready to learn.”
Advertisement:
The guidance was hailed by education leaders from around Massachusetts, including Max Page and Deb McCarthy, the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s president and vice president.
“Our laws are clear and enable us to support all students and colleagues and to respect their views and dignity,” they said in a statement. “Public schools, colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure every student and staff member feels safe and supported.”
University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan welcomed the guidance and noted similarities to the challenges UMass faced after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision on affirmative action.
“At UMass, we remain committed to creating welcoming and supportive campus communities where all experiences, cultures, and perspectives are respected,” Meehan said in a statement, adding, “I remain confident in our ability to continue living up to our values as an institution.”
Jessica Tang, president of the Massachusetts branch of the American Federation of Teachers, accused the Trump administration of deploying fear tactics in an attempt to implement an agenda “based on misinformation and threats.”
“Not only is this latest attempt unconstitutional, they’re doing exactly what they accuse others of: creating division and fear in classrooms across America,” Tang said. “Children cannot learn if they don’t feel like they’re in a safe and welcoming school. Massachusetts educators are working to make sure our schools remain safe spaces for all students to learn in and to go to in times of need.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com