Earlier today, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) issued a letter to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in response to a request from the DOE regarding state compliance with Title VI and related diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) regulations in schools across the state.
On April 3rd, the DOE gave all State Education Agencies in the United States 10 days to sign a letter assuring that their state’s public schools are in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (the DOE’s deadline was later extended to April 24th). Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race in programs receiving federal funding. The DOE’s letter also noted that certain DEI-related activities could be considered noncompliant with legislation.
Utah responded to the DOE’s request by submitting a letter outlining how the state meets the requirements of Title VI and civil rights regulations through state law and state board rule. In Utah, asking local education leaders to sign the certification would be redundant given that every local education agency (LEA) in the state already completes an annual mandatory checklist assuring their compliance with federal and state civil rights requirements.
“The annual assurances completed by our LEAs reflect USBE’s commitment to upholding both state and federal civil rights laws,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson. “We remain dedicated to meeting these legal obligations and maintaining transparency with our federal partners and local communities.”
No changes to existing school practices or programs are anticipated as a result of the DOE’s request.
