DEI is Civil Rights

DEmyst-I-fied from a K-12 Perspective

Author's Forward: (January 31, 2025): Earlier this week, 4PE approached me about republishing my post on DEI written last year. 

Just in one week... one day, not only has DEI become a dirty word, but now it's executive ordered out of our lexicon, soon to be out of all levels of government. You can Google all of the anti-DEI EOs and corporate capitulation to know that we're in dangerous times where only dominant culture is valued and centered.

Of particular note, the January 29th E.O., “Executive Order Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling” threatens to defund schools federally that the president claims promote "radical gender ideology" or "discriminatory equity ideology." However, each locality/school system has full authority over its curriculum; and by law, the government cannot unilaterally take away federal funding from individual school districts. (See more here).

Furthermore, I want everybody to see what DEI actually stands for:

DIVERSITY. EQUITY. INCLUSION.

We ARE a diverse nation. Not only by race, ethnicity, religion and gender... but also in thought. Engaging in good faith with diverse opinions and critical thinking is how we grow as people and as a society. Public schools at its best teach children how to think, not what to think.

Don't we want to include and welcome everyone who participates in our public education system?

Don't we want to ensure that every student and staff have the same opportunities to succeed so that they can participate fully in our schools and society?  

Not all is lost though. From our leaders to activists on the ground, it is our turn to fight for our values. Let's move forward, not backward. - Anjy

Because DEI is Civil Rights. Centering marginalized children and staff within your systems will only buoy the rest of us.  

In light of right wing and monied actors using DEI as a wedge issue to destroy K-12 public schools and higher education in general, it may be helpful to engage with what DEI exactly is, and why it has been implemented in educational settings across the nation.   

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a paradigm that acknowledges that every person within its community is entitled to dignity and space to exist. Within public schools, DEI departments work to maintain a civilized school and organizational culture celebrating differences among students and staff. This enables students to access learning and makes them more likely to succeed; enabling teachers to best support students while encouraging staff retention at the same time.  

It is more than just implementing policies to center marginalized communities; DEI creates the capacity and opportunity where all can thrive and succeed in an increasingly intellectually interconnected global world. For a global society that is empathetic and can think critically about issues from different viewpoints and understandings will only benefit the greater good.  

What exactly is “DEI” though?

In the simplest terms...

Why Do We Need a DEI Department?

But why do school systems need whole departments and staff to address issues of marginalization? DEI synergizes efforts between departments to foster achievement for all, not just for the majority, normative students. It would be difficult for even one person to manage all these efforts holistically. Amongst other roles, DEI departments work with (click on the arrow to expand for more information): 

Human Resources and Recruitment

DEI starts not just with diverse students, but also with hiring diverse staff who marginalized students can see themselves in. Representation matters and having role models that embody their own realities can foster student aspirations for their own futures. And in school, they can have a shared voice in advocacy for their communities 

But marginalized peoples not only benefit: Exposure to diverse educators of all backgrounds helps EVERY student develop interpersonal skills, emotional maturity, and empathy towards others. Challenging preconceptions about others based on prejudices and thinking deeply about the actual communities they live in, and all people that encompass it builds crucial critical thinking skills as they engage with diverse peoples and perspectives. 

Professional Development

One role of DEI departments is to conduct staff training to help them reflect on their own implicit biases. Many teachers/staff do not feel comfortable talking about large systemic issues such as race and feel unequipped when they must address it in the moment to students. And it should not be incumbent on marginalized staff to always have to explain their own oppression to others.  

By evaluating and implementing culturally responsive trainings, DEI departments educate staff on how to discuss marginalization with students leads to having hard conversations that can lead to societal change that benefits all social groups. 

Edit: 1/31/25: This journal article made me change my mind on focusing extensively on individual approaches to addressing inclusive workforces and learning cultures for students and staff. Changing individual mindsets has its place, but where DEI is successful is when structural change occurs.

Also read this Medium article, written in 2018. DEI programs focusing on diversity (rather than the intersectionality of this diversity); at the expense of equity does not promote or further equal opportunity or outcomes.

Academic Support (particularly for lower performing students)

Why do mostly Black, Brown, and/or the disAbled/neurodivergent underperform in standardized testing scores relative to other students?  Traditionally called the “achievement gap,” (but it’s really a failure of opportunity), systems need to understand why their schools consistently fail these children and measure how these scores change over time. Many divisions have now implemented online “dashboards” to show accountability to their constituencies. 

These students often need further academic support. Some examples include Special Education or EL programs that target specific students for additional individualized services. 

Curricula/Program of Studies

DEI departments work together with instructional departments to make sure the system procures and maintains culturally responsive, unbiased curricula that reflect all lived experiences that students can see themselves in. 

Information Technology also interplays with curricula development, as school systems makes sure that all students have access to the same technology in and out of schools so that everyone can learn the same platforms and complete homework outside of class. Pen and paper are important, but resource-poor schools do not have access to printers, paper, and pencils consistently. 

School Climate

School climate is a wide-ranging term, which refers not only to the physical attributes of a classroom (e.g., is the classroom space inviting and uncluttered; is the ratio of children to teachers appropriate for learning), but also the emotional space (i.e., are teachers and staff able to build relationships with students, do students “feel safe” with their adults and peers in the school setting); all of which intersect with the high quality of academic rigor each system expects the children in their care to partake. 

The school climate informs why trauma-informed care and socio-emotional learning must be implemented in classrooms too, as “students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe….” (Minahan, 2014) Emotional regulation, the ability to make and sustain peer-based friendships within the school setting and feeling confident in oneself enough to learn all traverse in resulting successful academic outcomes. This reality applies to all students, not just marginalized ones. 

Community-Based Learning

Many school-based DEI departments develop public seminars related to marginalized people's experiences within the system; and in response to current history and events. It creates spaces for sustained discussions within and among the larger community. 

Other School-Based Department Coordination/Considerations

Schools, for better or for worse, are institutions that must go beyond just mere learning instruction. Everything that impacts communities finds its way into schools: substance abuse, violence, poverty, amongst other societal issues. Indeed, for many families, their local public school is their primary source of food, health and mental care. DEI works hand in hand with specialized student support staff, such as counselors, school psychologists, community outreach groups, mental health specialists and specialized Special Education Teams (e.g., physical/occupational/speech therapists) to provide appropriate, culturally and family based wrap-around services.  

Restorative justice practices also play a role in schools, and not just in law enforcement. For example, chronic absenteeism is a real issue within school systems, mostly borne by students of color, marginalized genders and those with disAbilities. Disciplinary policies that actively promote school suspensions/expulsions often results in students falling further behind academically before dropping out of school altogether.  

Students who do not feel that they belong to their school community do not have successful outcomes in school and often, in life. The school-to-prison pipeline is a reality for many marginalized populations.   

DEI Supports Each and Every Student to Succeed

For the naysayers that promote DEI programs as “bloat,” divisive and unnecessary… you just cannot ignore issues away. Differentiation between groups of students is not only academic; no student is alike and there will always be variation between and amongst them due to race, class or other marginalization. And reverting to the same (privileged) lens to solve structural issues… where has it left us? The same groups of children who have always fallen behind (even before the COVID-19 pandemic) will continue to fail. And why is race (and merit) brought up when people of color ascend to leadership positions, while for the truly privileged, even with low test scores, it’s just assumed they are qualified... and it does not stop them from reaching the top.   

I am not convinced those who want to eliminate DEI programs want all children to succeed. They only want theirs to hoard all the limited resources public schools possess. Eventually going to Ivy league schools will always and forever be reserved for the most privileged of our society.  

And as for school systems who embrace DEI, it must be more than just words. Can your system unequivocally say that their DEI policies and implementation of them is truly having the effect of lifting up marginalized children you work with every day? If not, it’s just a performative exercise without action. Your students deserve better.  

Anjy Cramer has a child in Arlington Public Schools.