Kentucky public school district officials have another assignment: carrying out the Trump Administration’s order to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher sent a letter to local superintendents saying he’d sign the certification form. Erin Fletcher, public information officer for Madison County schools, said they did so by Friday’s deadline, but the work’s just beginning.
“We will have to spend a lot of time dissecting what's in that letter. And then also, we're waiting to receive a little additional guidance from our department of education and our statewide education leaders as to how to proceed.”
The Trump Administration has threatened to withhold funding to states and school districts that don’t comply with the order, but critics say they’ve not defined DEI. Stewart said the order comes at a difficult time of year for officials, teachers and students.
“It’s further complicated by the fact that this is the time of year when school districts are heading into testing season, and it's a very important time for us to focus on instruction and intervention and putting our kids in their very best position for success.”
In a statement, Fletcher said he was committed to ensuring every student, regardless of race, background, language, socioeconomic status, or zip code, has access to a high-quality education.
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