Dallas School District Removes DEI Goals from Language
Dallas school officials are striking DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals from district language, according to online records. A document regulating employment practices was amended on May 2 to remove a section on recruitment and retention through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The eliminated language explained the district’s “commitment to recruit and assign staff representatives of all racial and ethnic groups.” It laid out goals that included ensuring the district had a culturally diverse staff, honored native cultures and languages, as well as fostered a climate “in which employees accept the diversity of all District employees.”
Changes to District Policies
In addition, a senior district official’s title was changed to eliminate a reference to racial equity work. The district’s webpage for its Racial Equity Office now leads to an error message. That site had published metrics tracking DISD’s progress in providing academic opportunities to Black students and children learning English, among other benchmarks.
“Dallas ISD is, and will always remain, committed to closing achievement gaps and ensuring that students who need additional instruction and resources receive that,” trustee president Joe Carreón said.
The school board did not vote on the change. DISD administrators made the decisions in the wake of recent orders by President Donald Trump and momentum in the Texas Legislature to “ban DEI” in public schools.
Federal and State Efforts to Cut DEI Efforts
DISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said she believes the district can both be in compliance with federal law and continue its equity work, which she added is conducted legally. As a condition for receiving federal money, the Trump administration in April ordered K-12 schools to certify they are ending any discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Federal officials have yet to strictly define what work is impermissible.
The directive is tied up in court after more than a dozen states sued. “Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are legal efforts that help students feel safe, supported and respected. The Trump administration’s threats to withhold critical education funding due to the use of these initiatives are not only unlawful, but harmful to our children, families, and schools,” Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said of the lawsuit.
Impact on Texas Schools
In Texas, Republican state leaders are in lockstep with the White House. “Last session, we banned DEI in higher education and cut funding for any DEI positions. This session we will ban DEI in K-12 grades & cut funding,” Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X earlier this year. “No taxpayer dollars will be used to fund DEI in our schools.”
State lawmakers on Tuesday debated Senate Bill 12, which would prohibit schools from implementing hiring practices that consider race and allowing “differential treatment of or providing special benefits” to people based on their race or ethnicity.
Concerns from Education Advocates
Education advocates are concerned about the way the Trump administration’s efforts, combined with bills in the Legislature, could impact this kind of work in Texas schools. “Diversity, equity and inclusion policies are not about favoritism,” said Antonio Ingram, senior counsel with the Legal Defense Fund. “These policies are about remediation and mitigation of legacies of racial bias and discrimination, which still persist in Texas schools today.”
A recent survey from EdWeek Research Center found that roughly 5% of educators and school system leaders said their district’s emphasis on programs incorporating DEI stopped after Trump took office. Another 10% said the focus decreased.
Conclusion
The removal of DEI goals from the Dallas school district language is a significant development in the ongoing debate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools. While the district has stated its commitment to continuing equity work, the changes to district policies and the federal and state efforts to cut DEI efforts have raised concerns among education advocates. The impact of these changes on Texas schools and students remains to be seen.
FAQs
Q: What does DEI stand for?
A: DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Q: Why are DEI goals being removed from the Dallas school district language?
A: The removal of DEI goals is in response to recent orders by President Donald Trump and momentum in the Texas Legislature to “ban DEI” in public schools.
Q: What are the concerns about the removal of DEI goals?
A: Education advocates are concerned that the removal of DEI goals will impact the district’s ability to address disparities between racial groups and provide support to underperforming students.
Q: What is the impact of the federal and state efforts to cut DEI efforts on Texas schools?
A: The impact of the federal and state efforts to cut DEI efforts on Texas schools is still unclear, but education advocates are concerned that it will harm students and limit the district’s ability to provide equitable education.
