State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announced Tuesday he plans to withhold federal education funds from school districts that fail to discontinue race-based programs and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Walters wrote in a statement he will begin blocking funding Friday from districts that do not sign a compliance letter, which requires school districts to follow federal antidiscrimination laws and prohibits DEI from the state Department of Education.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary McMahon, we’ve set a national standard that protects our children from discriminatory practices under the guise of DEI,” Walters wrote in the statement. “Oklahoma is proud to stand firm in our commitment to merit-based education and the values that have made America exceptional.”
In an email to OU Daily Thursday, Courtney Scott, Norman Public Schools chief communications officer, confirmed NPS signed the letter and submitted it to the state Department of Education.
According to a March Pew Research Center study, Oklahoma is among the top 10 states that rely heavily on federal funding for public K-12 schools. As of 2022, 19.5% of total school revenue in Oklahoma comes from federal sources.
NPS received a nearly $1.8 million increase in federal funding as part of its 2024-25 budget, according to a January school board meeting.
Craig Trainor, the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a press release federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right.
“When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal antidiscrimination requirements,” Trainor wrote. “Unfortunately, we have seen too many schools flout or outright violate these obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans.”
This follows a letter Trainor sent in February, in which he wrote DEI programs have furthered discriminatory practices and racial stereotypes.
The U.S. Department of Education wrote in the press release the policy is pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-based affirmative action in college admissions.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires public funds not be spent in a manner that encourages or results in racial discrimination.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling aimed at ensuring schools receiving federal funds comply with existing antidiscrimination laws.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele. Gretchen Schultz and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
