Latest news with #JillUnderly
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin among 16 states that, so far, refuse to sign anti-DEI certification requested by U.S. Department of Education
Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction won't approve a federal anti-DEI certification request, potentially putting state school districts' federal funding at risk. Here's what we know: On Feb. 14, the education department sent a letter to school districts nationwide as notice of its interpretation of illegal discriminatory practices, such as support programs for historically marginalized communities. Then, on April 3, the U.S. Education Department announced it was requiring all state education leaders overseeing K-12 school districts to certify antidiscrimination obligations or risk losing federal funding. The department requested state education commissioners, like Wisconsin's DPI Superintendent Jill Underly, to certify their compliance with Title VI, which prevents racial discrimination, and a 2023 Supreme Court decision, SFFA v. Harvard, that outlawed race-based affirmative action programs. The department asserts that certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs violate antidiscrimination law. The DPI raised concerns over the request, saying they appear "unlawful," but received no response from the education department to its questions. The Department of Education said it could cut federal funding to any state or local education agency with DEI programs. The U.S. education department accounts for $568.2 million in education funding, which is equivalent to over 6,100 educator jobs, according to DPI. Overall federal funding to Wisconsin schools accounts for $842.9 million, which includes Department of Education funding as well as $273.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which goes toward student meals. Federal funding supports low-income schools, special education, free and reduced lunch and Head Start, which is already facing a major funding drop. In the Milwaukee area, federal funds account for 2%-20% of total district funding, with Milwaukee Public Schools at 20%. Around Green Bay, federal dollars make up 4%-10% of total funding, and in the Fox Valley, those funds make up 3%-11%. In Milwaukee: MPS could lose millions in funding if it doesn't abide by new federal guidelines In Green Bay: 'Nonsensical': Green Bay schools cut inclusion in job descriptions under federal funding threat In Appleton: How Fox Valley schools are changing their DEI messaging to avoid losing federal funding The DPI announced April 18 it won't submit the certification, saying the Education Department hasn't responded to its questions and that the order lacked clarity and failed to follow procedure around imposing funding conditions. But the DPI did submit certifications that every Wisconsin school district will comply with 'all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements,' such as Title VI, Title IX and FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Title IX protects students from sex discrimination, and FERPA is a student privacy law. Those district certifications are submitted at the beginning of every school year, Underly said, and they show that the state upholds antidiscrimination law. Notably absent from the list was the SFFA v. Harvard affirmative action decision. The DPI isn't collecting certifications from districts, so schools can't independently certify. Underly said she spoke to several district superintendents, who all agreed with the DPI's decision. 'They also see the perspective that they're in compliance with the law already,' Underly said. 'They want to focus on doing what's best for kids and families.' Wisconsin is one of 16 states that declined to certify the request as of April 18, according to EdWeek. Sixteen states and Puerto Rico have said they intend to certify the request, and the rest haven't said. Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@ or on X at @nadiaascharf. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Federal education funding at risk in anti-DEI certification request
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin DPI rejects Trump administration request for certification on DEI ban compliance
State Superintendent Jill Underly said "Washington, D.C. should not dictate how schools educate their kids." Underly pictured with Madison La Follette High School Principal Mathew Thompson and Madison Public School District Superintendent Joe Gothard in the hallway at La Follette in September 2024. (Photo by Ruth Conniff/Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction rejected the Trump administration's request to certify compliance with a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in K-12 public schools. State Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement that Wisconsin schools are following the law. 'We've put that into writing to the USDE,' Underly said. 'We believe in local control in Wisconsin and trusting our local leaders – superintendents, principals, educators – who work together with parents and families every day to support students. They know their communities best. Washington, D.C. should not dictate how schools educate their kids.' The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter earlier this month to state agencies across the country requesting that agencies check with local school districts to ensure they don't have diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The federal administration is trying to apply the U.S. Supreme Court's Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision, which said race-based programs in higher education violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, to K-12 education. The administration said state agencies needed to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Supreme Court decision. Wisconsin is one of several states, mostly led by Democrats, that have pushed back on the request. The Trump administration, which has been targeting diversity efforts in K-12 schools as well as in higher education and other sectors, has threatened that it could pull funding from states that don't comply with the request. Wisconsin schools receive $841.9 million from the federal government, making up about 8% of the total funding for schools across the state. Funding from the Department of Education makes up $568.2 million of that, and according to DPI, this is equivalent to 6,106 educator jobs. According to the letter, DPI provided the Department of Education with copies of previous certifications of compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The agency said that its repeated requests for additional information about the new certification request went unanswered. In an April 9 letter, DPI asked for clarification on why the federal government was requesting another certification and asked the Department of Education to answer questions including whether the requested certification seeks to enforce any requirement beyond what is required by federal law and regulation and what legal authority the Education Department is using to make the request a condition of federal aid. 'If the certified assurances are insufficient to meet the conditions of federal funding imposed by USDE, please articulate the basis in law for imposing these conditions, as well as an explanation as to why these assurances do not fulfill those requirements,' DPI General Counsel Benjamin Jones wrote to the Department of Education. Underly said the new certification is a way for the federal government to 'directly control the decisions in our schools by conditioning federal dollars. This is a serious concern – not just for the DPI, but for anyone who believes in lawful, transparent government.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction won't certify Trump administration anti-DEI request, risking federal education funds
Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction won't approve a federal anti-DEI certification request, potentially putting state school districts' federal funding at risk. "This is about local control,' state superintendent Jill Underly said. 'It's about Washington, D.C., wanting to dictate how schools from Racine to Green Bay to Ashland educate their kids." On April 3, the U.S. Education Department announced it was requiring all state education leaders overseeing K-12 school districts to certify antidiscrimination obligations or risk losing federal funding. After raising initial concerns over the request's lack of clarity and apparent overreach, the DPI said April 18 it won't submit the certification, saying the education department hasn't responded to those concerns. In a response to the federal agency, DPI general counsel Benjamin Jones included assurances from school districts that they'll comply with 'all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.' But one key request from the education department was missing from the DPI response: compliance with a 2023 anti-affirmative action decision. The DPI received no responses to the questions it raised about the certification. Underly said she couldn't sign in good conscience, because she didn't know what she'd be agreeing to. "This letter that they sent us was their interpretation of what should be followed. But that's not law,' Underly said. "Wisconsin schools are already following a law that's in place, and that's what our letter made absolutely clear.' The department requested state education commissioners, like Underly, to certify their compliance with Title VI, which prevents racial discrimination, and a 2023 Supreme Court decision, SFFA v. Harvard, that outlawed race-based affirmative action programs. In the letter requesting certification, the Department of Education asserted that certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs violate antidiscrimination law. Because of that, it said it could cut federal funding to any state or local education agency with DEI programs. This isn't the first federal funding threat sent out under the Trump administration. On Feb. 14, the education department sent a 'dear colleague' letter to school districts nationwide as notice of its interpretation of illegal discriminatory practices, such as support programs for historically marginalized communities. In a news release, the DPI said it would not complete the Department of Education's requested certification due to the order's lack of clarity, failure to follow procedure around imposing funding conditions and impact on local control. Instead, it submitted certifications that every Wisconsin school district will comply with 'all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements,' such as Title VI, Title IX and FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Title IX protects students from sex discrimination, and FERPA is a student privacy law. Those district certifications are submitted at the beginning of every school year, Underly said, and they show that the state upholds antidiscrimination law. Notably absent from the list was the SFFA v. Harvard affirmative action decision. If the submitted school district certifications don't meet federal funding conditions, Jones, DPI's general counsel, asked the education department to explain the legal basis behind those conditions and why approving 'all applicable' requirements wouldn't meet them. In Green Bay: 'Nonsensical': Green Bay schools cut inclusion in job descriptions under federal funding threat In Appleton: How Fox Valley schools are changing their DEI messaging to avoid losing federal funding The DPI isn't collecting certifications from districts, so schools can't independently certify. For Underly to sign the certification, she said, the Department of Education would need to provide more information on what was being agreed to. There are also constitutional questions because there wasn't notice or a comment period, she said. 'This is just another way for the federal government to bypass Congress and dictate what we're doing in our schools,' Underly said. Wisconsin is one of 15 states that have declined to certify the request as of April 17, according to EdWeek. Thirteen of those states, including Wisconsin, have Democratic governors, while Utah and Vermont are led by Republicans. Sixteen states and Puerto Rico have said they intend to certify the request, and the rest haven't said. Underly said she spoke to about a dozen other state superintendents, who were all in agreement about the threat to local control. Federal dollars are vital for Wisconsin schools, Underly said. If that funding were to go away, the state would have to fill that gap. While she's talked to legislators about what that would look like, those conversations have all been in the broader context of school funding issues. U.S. Education Department dollars account for $568.2 million in education funding, which is equivalent to over 6,100 educator jobs, according to DPI. Overall federal funding counts for $842.9 million. Federal funding supports low-income schools through Title I programs, special education, free and reduced lunch and Head Start, which is already facing a major funding drop. In the Milwaukee area, federal funds account for 2%-20% of total district funding, with Milwaukee Public Schools at 20%. Around Green Bay, federal dollars make up 4-10% of total funding, and in the Fox Valley, those funds make up 3%-11%. Underly said she spoke to several district superintendents, who all agreed with the DPI's decision. 'They also see the perspective that they're in compliance with the law already,' Underly said. 'They want to focus on doing what's best for kids and families.' Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@ or on X at @nadiaascharf. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: DPI won't certify Trump administration anti-DEI request. Why?
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DPI reviewing Trump administration request that schools certify compliance with diversity ban
"We remain confident Wisconsin schools and the DPI are in full compliance with the law," DPI Superintendent Jill Underly said in a statement. Underly at a rally in February. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is reviewing a request by the Trump administration that state education agencies ensure they aren't using diversity, equity and inclusion programs — or risk losing federal funding. According to WisPolitics, state Superintendent Jill Underly said the agency is looking at the U.S. Department of Education's 'justification and authority to request sign off from Wisconsin schools on the federal agency's political beliefs.' 'Now more than ever, Wisconsin's students, educators and schools need support – not threats of federal funding cuts that are vital to their success,' Underly said in a statement. 'As we stated in February, we remain confident Wisconsin schools and the DPI are in full compliance with the law and remain committed to providing the best education possible for our students.' In a letter, the Department of Education said that state agencies need to certify their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the responsibilities outlined in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard — the landmark Supreme Court decision that said race-based programs in higher education violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and effectively ended consideration of race in admissions programs. 'Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,' Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. 'When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal antidiscrimination requirements. 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 to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI.' The request comes as a part of President Donald Trump's ongoing attack on DEI efforts across the country. State agencies were given 10 days to collect certification from local education agencies and respond, according to the release. Underly, who was reelected to a second term this week, also urged state lawmakers Wednesday to invest in Wisconsin's public schools amid the threat of funding cuts by the federal government. 'An unprecedented number of our school districts have been forced to turn to referenda, asking their communities to raise property taxes just to compensate for the state's underfunding. On top of that, the Trump administration's reckless cuts threaten the critical federal funding that Wisconsin schools depend on,' Underly said at a public hearing held by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee in Kaukana. Underly was not invited for an agency briefing before the committee, so she traveled to deliver her message at the public hearing. Her requests for state investment include increasing the state's special education reimbursement for schools, funding universal free school meals and investing in mental health supports for students. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Debate over Wisconsin's budget kicks off in Kaukauna
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – The debate over Wisconsin's next budget kicked off as lawmakers held the first of four public hearings in Kaukauna. The Joint Finance Committee gathered input from residents on key issues such as school funding, infrastructure, and economic policy. Jackson Elementary hosts Quilting Blessing & Celebration, sewing life skills through quilting Among those urging for increased state funding was State Superintendent Jill Underly. 'So it all goes back to funding. Whether we want kids to be successful in the classroom, reduce class sizes, or retain teachers, it all goes back to funding, and this budget represents a tremendous opportunity for us to reinvest in our Wisconsin future,' Underly said. Governor Tony Evers' proposed budget focuses on reinvesting in public schools, infrastructure, and economic relief for working families. However, Democrats argue that their efforts are being undermined by what they describe as 'chaos' in Washington. 'What Republicans in Washington are doing is hurting Wisconsin families. They are raising prices at the gas pump, buying cars, and making massive cuts. These prices are going to go up because of what Republicans in Washington are doing,' said State Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison). On the Republican side, lawmakers emphasized the importance of hearing directly from Wisconsinites and maintaining fiscal responsibility. 'This is the first of four public hearings around the state, as we've done many times in the past. We are conducting these public hearings all over the state of Wisconsin. This is an important step in the process in putting the budget together,' said State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green). Republicans also stressed that negotiation will be key in finalizing the state budget. 'The budget is a compromised document. The two houses compromise and talk about things all the time, so I think there's always an opportunity to compromise, whether it's between the houses or with the governor's office,' Marklein added. Among those testifying at the hearing were local labor leaders, educators, and business owners. Many voiced concerns about rising costs and the potential impact of federal funding cuts on state programs. 'Yesterday, we heard loud and clear that Wisconsin is not a place where people want to give the state away to billionaires, but rather a place where we want to invest in working men and women and working families so they can succeed, and that's what Governor Evers' budget does,' said State Representative Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha). The hearing followed Tuesday's Wisconsin Supreme Court election, where Democrat-backed Susan Crawford defeated former Attorney General Brad Schimel. Republicans say the result follows a recent trend of lower GOP turnout in spring elections. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hold rummage sale featuring game-worn items at a discount 'I think in some ways it kind of went the way spring elections have gone. Obviously, lower turnout than the fall elections. Democrats have done a better job in getting their voters out to these spring elections, and I think that's what happened last night,' said State Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam). The next Joint Finance Committee public hearing will take place in West Allis on Friday, April 4, with stops in Hayward and Wausau later this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
