NY State Education Department won't sign Trump administration's anti-DEI certification -- risking federal funds

Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News on Apr 4, 2025

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NEW YORK — The New York State Education Department announced Friday it will not sign a certification against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices as directed by the Trump administration — at the risk of losing federal funding.

A letter sent the day before by the U.S. Department of Education gave state commissioners 10 days to sign and return the formal affirmation. Insisting New York has attested to following federal law, a spokesman for state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said, “No further certification will be forthcoming.”

“The New York State Education Department has consistently certified, on multiple occasions, that it does and will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” spokesman J.P. O’Hare said in a statement.

“Given the fact that USDOE is already in possession of the guarantees by NYSED, no further certification will be forthcoming. The Board of Regents and State Education Department continue to work with New York’s schools to increase equity, access and opportunities in education for all New York State students.”

The federal government’s directive on Thursday was the latest escalation against DEI programming in schools. Over the last couple of months, the U.S. Education Department has set deadlines, launched investigations and threatened to cancel funds. During President Trump’s first month in office, the U.S. Education Department opened a probe into the Ithaca City School District over an annual student conference from which white children were reportedly excluded.

“Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Education Department, said in the announcement. He accused schools of “using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.”

Previous federal action to ban DEI is currently being challenged in court. State Attorney General Letitia James has also advised New York school districts and higher education institutions not to back away from their commitments to diversity.

New York City public schools receive about $2 billion in federal funding that could be on the line if they are found to be out of compliance.

“Diversity is a superpower here in New York City,” New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said after an unrelated press conference Thursday in East Harlem. “We are always going to honor that. We are always going to make sure that we are serving every single child and family in New York City.”

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