OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma public schools must sign a letter agreeing to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives or lose federal funding.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters' office sent the letter to schools. The Title VI assurance letter follows the Trump Administration's requirement all schools comply with the elimination of DEI initiatives. Walters said the majority of Oklahoma schools already signed the letter.
According to his office, as of April 18, 446 schools signed it, and 96 have yet to respond to the request. Schools must sign it by April 24.
Walters said he'll start withholding all federal funds from any school that doesn't comply on April 25. He'll send that money back to the federal government.
The Trump Administration and Walters say DEI initiatives are discriminatory because they deny educational opportunities to some students based on race.
2 News asked Walters what specific programs or classroom material might violate this federal mandate.
He mentioned an instance where students did a "white privilege walk," where white students were tasked with identifying their privilege. He also mentioned Critical Race Theory, which he said is already eliminated.
WATCH our full interview with Walters:
2 News reached out to local school districts about the letter.
Bixby Public Schools told us they've signed the letter, but clarified that signing results in no changes at the district:
The district received the Title VI assurance from the U.S. Department of Education, and it was immediately signed and submitted by Supt. Miller on April 10.
It is important to emphasize that the signing of this assurance will result in no changes to Bixby Public Schools' existing practices, policies, or programs, as the district has long been in full compliance with all applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws. This action is simply a redundancy, outlining the standards by which we already operate.
We do not have any DEI policies in place and adhere to our Equal Opportunity/Notice of Discrimination Policy: Bixby Public Schools, as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, military status and/or age in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment decisions. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, not to discriminate in such a manner.
Broken Arrow Public Schools said it signed the letter on April 17. Tulsa Public Schools signed on April 18.
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