Introduction to the Controversy
Broward County Public Schools is canceling the Latinos in Action leadership course after being ordered to do so by the United States Department of Education.
Latinos in Action is a popular extracurricular club, and it’s also an elective class, offered in 44 Broward County public middle and high schools.
Background on the Decision
The district has pledged to eliminate the leadership course for the spring semester after the Trump Administration said in a letter sent to the district two days ago that the class discriminates against other ethnicities and violates federal law.
Reaction from School Board Members
“I am a proud Cuban American, and obviously I want Latinos to be well-represented in this district and in this community; however, we are going to do that within the confines of all state and federal legislation,” said Adam Cervera, the only Hispanic member of the Broward County School Board.
The United States Department of Education is demanding that Broward County Public Schools sever ties with Latinos in Action.
Cervera was appointed to the Board by Gov. Ron DeSantis. He points out that the Department of Education’s letter says the Latinos in Action course has a quota system, which violates federal civil rights law.
Details of the Letter
“The Latinos in Action program, however, is designed for and exclusive to Latino students. It is not, for instance, available to Black, white, or Asian American students,” the letter states.
“We allow everyone into these clubs and everyone into these classes within the district, and I will also tell you, Ari, that within our contract that we have signed with Latinos in Action, there is no language requiring a certain amount of threshold students to be Latino or non-Latino,” Cervera said.
Community Reaction
Pembroke Pines has at least four schools that offer the Latinos in Action class. City commissioner Maria Rodriguez thinks Washington is targeting Broward Schools.
“I think it’s a threat and it’s a threat specifically to Broward County, and it doesn’t make sense to me because 33% of the county’s population is Hispanic, this is something that would be very, very needed within our community,” Rodriguez said.
Implications and Consequences
Latinos in Action operates in 16 states, including several districts in Florida. The DOE’s letter ordered Broward Schools to confirm, within five days, that it will cancel the Latinos in Action course in the spring semester or face losing $30 million in federal funding.
“As a result, BCPS will transition away from the current Latinos in Action curriculum by the start of spring semester, as required,” the district said in a letter sent to parents Thursday night.
School board member Dr. Allen Zeman called it extortion, saying the $30 million grant has nothing to do with Latinos in Action.
“The federal government chose a very big hammer, and they came down on the district and on the students, came down on the families, came down on an effective leadership program in the interests of what? Nobody was being denied their civil rights, nobody is denied access to classes in Broward County,” Zeman said.
2,800 students are impacted by the class cancellation.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the Latinos in Action course by Broward County Public Schools marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about diversity and inclusion in educational institutions. The decision, prompted by the Department of Education’s letter, highlights the complexities and challenges schools face in balancing the needs of diverse student populations with federal regulations. As the district moves forward with alternative plans, it remains to be seen how this change will affect the students and communities involved.
FAQs
- Why is the Latinos in Action course being canceled?
The course is being canceled due to a letter from the Department of Education stating that it discriminates against other ethnicities and violates federal law. - How many students are impacted by the cancellation?
2,800 students are impacted by the class cancellation. - What is the reaction from the community and school board members?
The community and school board members are expressing concerns and disappointment over the cancellation, with some viewing it as a threat to the Hispanic community in Broward County. - What are the implications of the cancellation?
The cancellation marks a significant development in the debate about diversity and inclusion in educational institutions and highlights the challenges schools face in balancing the needs of diverse student populations with federal regulations.
