CPS stands firm against Trump’s anti-DEI policy, refuses to sign letter

Cincinnati Public Schools has not signed the “Reminder of Legal Obligations” letter, issued by the U.S. Department of Education on April 3 that indicates the District is standing firm in holding onto its extensive Discrimination, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies. 

“Cincinnati Public Schools is well-aware of its legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Constitution and laws of the United States and State of Ohio,” the CPS District Board of Education responded in a statement. 

Board President Dr. Kareem Moffett said, “Cincinnati Public Schools follows the law and will continue to follow the law. The District’s policies, programs and activities do not discriminate against students on the basis of race or any other protected characteristics. CPS did not sign the letter because the District’s policies and programs are supportive and welcoming to all students.”

The District receives approximately $50 to $55 million per year in federal funds, which accounts for around 10% to 14% of its budget. 

The U.S. Department of Education wants schools to certify that they’re not using “illegal DEI practices,” without defining exactly what DEI initiatives are included. “Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” the department said in a press release. “When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal anti-discrimination requirements.”

It is reported that about 15 Ohio school districts are refusing to comply with the “Reminder of Legal Obligations” letter, and in three cases nationally, federal judges have paused the Trump administration’s effort to cut off money from public schools with DEI programs.

According to  the CPS Website, benefits from its DEI policies: “Our students, staff and stakeholders bring their personal backgrounds into our schools and the District is richer for it.  Each of them has a legitimate expectation to have a barrier-free learning environment counteracting the contemporary and historical impact of bias, prejudice and discrimination which for generations has produced a predictability of learning outcomes based on race, class, socioeconomics, gender, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cognitive/physical ability, diverse language fluency, and religion.

“It is the obligation of the District to embrace the diversity within our District while actively eliminating practices that perpetuate the disparities among our students so that all students have the opportunity to benefit equally.  These disparities are unacceptable and are directly at odds with the Board’s Vision that Cincinnati Public Schools “is a community that ensures equitable access to a world class education unleashing the potential of every student.”

The Board has established the following DEI course of action: 

• Foster the universal values as expressed and adopted in Board Resolution – Adopting Working Definitions for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Excellence in Education so that these values are shared across the District by a wide range of students, staff and stakeholders who are committed to act on these values without bias, prejudice, or discrimination.
• Commit to ensuring that fairness, equity and inclusion are essential principles of our school system fully integrating these principles into all of our policies, programs, operations and practices.
• Adopt a teaching and learning culture that includes high expectations of students and staff, varied teaching and learning styles, and individualized as well as systemic supports for teachers and students.
• Create multiple learning pathways that widen access to educational opportunities and lifelong success.
• Provide high quality, culturally relevant and responsive curricula for all students and teachers regardless of learning sites.
• Eliminate District policies, structures, and practices that perpetuate inequities and contribute to disproportionality of access and outcomes.
• Identify, develop and apply best instructional practices that have demonstrably made a positive difference for students and groups of students in order to reduce prevalent and persistent learning outcome gaps.
• Allocate annually the District’s many financial, capital and human resources equitably. 
• Facilitate equitable access to co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, social services, tutoring, and enrichment opportunities.
• Engage, include and collaborate with our families, students, residents, communities, and stakeholders as this Board recognizes that their active involvement is essential to the Board’s own responsibility for effective and equitable governance.

Superintendent Shauna Murphy said at a town hall meeting on April 15 that the district will not know where funding stands until June.

Murphy shared that while this is a time of uncertainty for funding, she and her board are willing to listen and make the best decision for CPS students.

“We don’t know how to interpret that quite yet, so we are doing the very best we can right now with what we have had along the way,” Murphy said.

At a final town hall on April 28, CPS will discuss why the district did not sign a letter from the Trump administration to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion.