1 week Ago
PHOENIX — Arizona School Superintendent Tom Horne is threatening to block more than $1.5 million in federal funding for a Valley school district over what he claims is an illegal DEI program. The district says it's done nothing wrong.
"Kyrene and any district or charter that is not taking the federal DEI guidance will lose their federal dollars," the Republican school superintendent said in a news release Friday. "The U.S.
Department of Education has been abundantly clear with its most recent guidance against the use of DEI language in schools...
This guidance aligns completely with my philosophy." Horne's warning stems from the Trump Administration's new interpretation of civil rights law. The U.
S. Department of Education views school policies on diversity, equity and inclusion as discriminatory- giving an advantage to one race over another. "DEI is all about racial entitlement," Horne said.
'It's not discriminatory.' Kevin Walsh, president of the Kyrene Governing Board, told reporters the district was blindsided by Horne's threat. Walsh said the district hadn't heard anything from Horne, hadn't done anything illegal and didn't know where he got the federal funding number of $1.
5 million. "We have a diversity, equity and inclusion policy that's full of inclusive language. It's not discriminatory in any way," Walsh said.
"We've not received any notice, formal or informal, from Mr. Horne..
. We're aware that he's thinking that these policies are not compliant, but we firmly stand behind them." Walsh said the district received $3 million from the U.
S. Department of Education. A Horne spokesman told 12News that the $1.
5 million number in the news release was a "quick tally." Kyrene is a K-8 district with schools in Tempe, Chandler and Ahwatukee. Districts face deadline to comply The Department of Education has given school districts an April 24 deadline to certify they are complying with the new DEI policy.
"The continued use of illegal DEI practices," the certification document says , could result in the termination of federal funding and possible legal action against a district. Several states and cities have pushed back, and lawsuits have been filed. Kyrene appears ready to fight.
"We think that we are entitled to every penny that the federal government has allocated," Walsh said. "If (Horne) chooses to withhold those funds, all options are on the table." Mayes: Horne doesn't cite authority The Arizona Department of Education is typically a pass-through for federal dollars to school districts.
When asked whether Horne could withhold the money, a spokesman for Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes told 12News: "Tom Horne does not cite a legal basis or authority for his threat to withhold these funds." What prompted Horne threat? Horne issued his news release three days after a School Board meeting on April 8 that reviewed a new "Staff Social Emotional Wellness Policy." Horne said that the Kyrene board "unanimously approved a 'Staff Social Emotional Wellness Policy' that states, 'Policy 1-204 Equal Opportunity - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion outlines Kyrene's commitment to value, respect, and celebrate diversity in the workplace.
'" Video of the April 8 meeting shows the School Board unanimously agreed to advance a "Staff Social Emotional Wellness Policy" for further discussion. The document has yet to receive final approval. "Nothing's been adopted," Walsh said.
"But even if we were to adopt that policy, we do not believe that supporting our staff's social and emotional wellness runs afoul of anything in federal law." Aware of certification Walsh said Kyrene was aware of the new certification requirements issued by the U.S.
Department of Education a few days before the April 8 meeting. "We've made a promise to our community and to our families to provide inclusive environments," Walsh said. "We stand behind that.
".
