Vermont Education Secretary Zoie Saunders initially instructed the state’s superintendents to certify compliance with a new directive from the Trump administration banning “illegal D.E.I.” programming, putting millions of dollars in federal funding at risk. However, after facing criticism and pushback from local officials and advocacy groups, Saunders reversed course on Monday.
The initial directive from the U.S. Department of Education lacked clarity on what kind of programming was permissible under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Vermont’s Agency of Education initially told schools to certify compliance while still allowing them to pursue their D.E.I. services. This alarmed local officials and advocacy groups, who felt it was unworkable and could send mixed messages about the state’s equity commitments.
After consultation with educational leaders, Saunders and Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark decided to send a single, statewide letter certifying compliance with current law and rejecting conditions not supported by law. This decision relieved superintendents from providing individual certifications, ensuring that Vermont schools would not have to comply with the Trump administration’s new interpretations of federal law.
The joint statement from Saunders and Clark aimed to address the confusion and chaos caused by the federal directive and emphasized Vermont’s commitment to creating positive school environments free from bullying and manipulation. The decision to issue a statewide certification letter was seen as a way to protect essential federal funding while maintaining the state’s values and commitment to equity work in education.
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