Ellison sues Trump over end to public school diversity programs

CONCORD N H AP Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and other state attorneys general that refused to comply with a Trump administration directive aimed at eliminating diversity equity and inclusion programs in masses schools went a step further Friday filing a federal lawsuit challenging what they consider an illegal threat to cut federal funding Minnesotans believe that every child has the right to learn in an surroundings that is safe supportive and inclusive Ellison disclosed in a news release These federal investments help fund programs that aid students from poor families assistance for students with special demands early learning programs transportation services and so much more Ellison stated the U S Department of Mentoring provides Minnesota with roughly million in financial assistance each year for a wide variety of necessities and services related to children and schooling Related from MinnPost U S Development Department layoffs ramp up anxieties at Minnesota schools The lawsuit filed in Massachusetts by Democratic attorneys general seeks to block the Department of Training from withholding money based on its April directive ordering states to certify their compliance with civil rights laws including the rejection of what the federal authorities calls illegal DEI practices States also were advised to gather signatures from local school systems certifying their compliance by April Instead the plaintiffs informed the governing body that they stand by their prior certifications of compliance with the law but refuse to abandon policies that promote equal access to development Diversity equity and inclusion initiatives are legal efforts that help students feel safe supported and respected The Trump administration s threats to withhold critical guidance funding due to the use of these initiatives are not only unlawful but harmful to our children families and schools disclosed Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Enjoyment Campbell The new lawsuit comes a day after judges in three states ruled against the Trump administration in separate but related cases A Maryland judge postponed the effective date of a Feb memo in which the learning department informed schools and colleges they needed to end any practice that differentiates people based on their race A judge in Washington D C granted a preliminary injunction against the April certification letter And in New Hampshire a judge ruled that the department can not enforce either document against the plaintiffs in that event which includes one of the nation s largest teachers unions All three lawsuits argue that the guidance limits academic freedom and is so vague that it leaves schools and educators in limbo about what they may do such as whether voluntary participant groups for minority students are still allowed The new lawsuit accuses the administration of imperiling more than billion including money used to serve students with disabilities Plaintiffs are left with an impossible choice either certify compliance with an ambiguous and unconstitutional federal directive threatening to chill polices programs and speech or vulnerability losing indispensable funds that serve their largest part vulnerable attendee populations the lawsuit states In addition to Campbell the plaintiffs are the attorneys general of California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Illinois Maryland Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington and Wisconsin The instruction department did not respond to a request for comment Friday President Donald Trump s coaching secretary Linda McMahon has warned of prospective funding cuts if states do not return the certification forms In a Tuesday interview on the Fox Business Framework McMahon reported that states that refuse to sign could menace various defunding in their districts The purpose of the form is to make sure there s no discrimination that s happening in any of the schools she disclosed MinnPost staff contributed to this record The post Ellison sues Trump over end to society school diversity programs appeared first on MinnPost