In a letter to state and local education commissioners Thursday, the federal education department demanded school districts certify they’re in compliance with a recent Supreme Court ruling — one the feds insist makes certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs illegal.

It’s unclear whether programs in city schools, including curriculum focusing on subjects like Black history, would run afoul of these guidelines.

What You Need To Know

  • In a letter to state and local education commissioners Thursday, the federal education department  threatened that “continued use of illegal DEI practices” could lead school districts to lose federal funding

  • The city’s public schools get the vast majority of their budgets from state and city money, but do receive significant Title I federal funding for low-income schools
  • Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos was in East Harlem to roll out NYC Public Schools Cares, which will include a program called Family Connectors
  • Family Connectors offers parents and guardians five weeks of training to help them support their fellow public school families and address problems like housing insecurity and chronic absenteeism

Asked about the letter, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos sought to keep the attention on a new initiative she was announcing.

“We’re here today to celebrate community, our families, our students, who are going to be leading charges on wellness, on safety, and on all the resources that exist across New York City. Diversity is a superpower here in New York City. We are always going to honor that,” Aviles-Ramos said.

The letter threatens that “continued use of illegal DEI practices” could lead school districts to lose federal funding. The city’s public schools get the vast majority of their budgets from state and city money, but do receive significant Title I federal funding for low-income schools.

“It’s roughly $2 billion in our budget, but the much larger pot of money is from the state. And that’s why we’ve been making a lot of noise for the Foundation Aid Formula to be adjusted. We’re so grateful to our state elected officials who have stood with us and who are fighting the good fight in Albany. So that’s where we’re putting our focus,” Aviles-Ramos said.

Aviles-Ramos was in East Harlem to roll out NYC Public Schools Cares, which will include a program called Family Connectors — offering parents and guardians five weeks of training to help them support their fellow public school families and address problems like housing insecurity and chronic absenteeism.

“We cannot punish parents when kids cannot get to school. We need to ask the question: ‘parents, what is keeping your children from school and how can we help you?’” Aviles-Ramos said.

The city will also launch anti-bullying and anti-vaping campaigns run by students.

“We’re talking about how we should stop vaping and how other kids should not vape because it hurts their lungs. If they’re athletes, they won’t be able to continue what they’re doing,” student Jesus Peguero said.