On Monday, the Arizona State Board of Education voted to postpone the process of removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language from teaching standards, risking more than $850 million in federal dollars if it doesn’t act.
The Board is delaying action on the issue the matter will be placed on the December agenda.
President Trump issued an Executive Order in January requiring DEI language to be removed from programs funded by federal dollars. Trump issued Executive Order 14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” on January 20, 2025, which mandated the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. Trump’s order also included provisions that impacted entities receiving federal funding by requiring them to certify that their programs comply with anti-discrimination laws and by threatening enforcement action for non-compliance.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne denounced the delay, saying he strongly disagrees with postponing the effort to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) language from state teaching standards. Horne cited the funding risks, arguing that the federal government may withhold an estimated $866 million and this issue must be addressed immediately.
“I respectfully but strongly disagree with the vote to postpone opening the rule making process,” stated Horne. “The president issued an Executive Order requiring DEI language to be removed from programs funded by federal dollars. It made it abundantly clear that federal education funding is at risk if DEI language remains in education programs. Failure to comply with federal guidance may result in the loss of an estimated $866 million to Arizona schools. That is a major funding cut to our schools, and we need to begin dealing with this as soon as possible.”
“Not only is the $866 million at risk, there is a philosophical issue at stake too,” argued Horne. “All people should be judged based on their character and ability, not their race or ethnicity. DEI language and programs promote the exact opposite, and they have no place in the classroom. The teaching standards unfortunately include DEI references, and they need to be removed.”
The teaching standards in question include references to teaching “equitably” and with a focus on “responsiveness to the cultural backgrounds and differing perspectives learners bring to the learning environment.” They also refer to understanding the “social, emotional and cultural needs of students” in the classroom.
“These terms do not belong in teaching standards,” stated Horne. “The standards are meant to direct educators on the most effective ways to teach students core academics. Every instructional minute is precious, and DEI efforts distract from that essential mission.”
One Board member who ran as a conservative but has adopted progressive policy positions frequently, Cochise County Superintendent Jacqui Clay, claimed she doesn’t want the decision to be rushed or a knee-jerk response to the White House in justifying her vote to delay action.
DEI should be voted out! Sadly, the first ones to complain that they don’t have enough money are on the left.
Equality and equity in a race. Equality: all the runners line up at the same line at the start and the fastest runner wins. Equity: all the runners are separated according to how fast they can run, the the slow runners get head starts yards ahead of the fast runners, to ensure that they all finish at the same time. What president Trump did was spot on, all the BS that he included in his order has no business being in the school curriculum. Mr Horne is absolutely right and the state board should have voted to enforce the executive order. It’s a no brainer…..teach S T E M.