By Alyssa Harper
Walking the halls of the typical American high school, you see posters in English and Spanish lining the walls. There are fliers for various clubs, some reflecting different cultural and gender identities. And there are buttons that automatically open doors for people with disabilities.
All of this is made possible by diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public spaces.
This past spring, the New York State Department of Education announced that it would not comply with the Trump administration’s demands to end DEI programs in New York public schools. It was feared at the time that the decision could result in a federal funding cut. On April 24, however, federal judges in Maryland, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. barred the Trump administration from withholding federal funding from public schools that maintained DEI programs. The Trump administration is appealing.
Possible repercussions for L.I.
The Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association advocates for Long Island school districts. NSSBA Executive Director Robert Vecchio said the association is closely monitoring what happens at the state and federal levels when it comes to DEI and DEI funding.
“The executive order does not change law. Long Island schools have to follow state education department regulations.”
Robert Vecchio, Executive Director, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association
Long Island schools must abide by state law. “The executive order does not change law,” Vecchio said. “Long Island schools have to follow state education department regulations.
“Sometimes when there is a conflict between federal and state regulations, that’s something that will have to be decided by the courts,” Vecchio continued. “More times than not, it’s the local state authorities that will trump federal authority in some cases.
“Our big concern is federal funding,” he continued. “If there is any withholding of federal funds, I’m sure that would be legally challenged right away by the state. But the impact could [affect] the day-to-day operations in certain school districts on Long Island because a lot of school districts that receive federal funds are some of your most socio-economically challenged districts.”
Federal Title I funding to New York may be affected by the Trump administration’s cuts. The funding is split into two parts — A and D. Part A funds are allocated to districts with low-income students who are at risk of falling behind academically. Part D funds go to districts to improve academic services for at-risk students.
According to the NYSED website, several Long Island school districts receive Title I funds. The Brentwood School District was allocated $3.34 million in Title I funds in the 2024-25 school year — the most of any Long Island district. The Hempstead School District was awarded $2.1 million. Both districts are located in primarily Hispanic and Black communities.
A funding cut could affect the quality of education that students receive. “Federal funding is a threat to the business of education, and we can’t deny or look away from the fact that education has a business aspect to it,” said Dr.Cornell Craig, vice president for equity and inclusion at Hofstra University.
Running a school requires funds for textbooks, computers, clubs, facilities, food, and faculty and staff salaries. A funding cut could hurt a school district’s ability to operate and offer services.
“Primarily, the purpose of DEI in schools is to provide opportunity and access,” Craig said. “Secondarily, we also have to reconcile our history, our history as a country, our history within American education, which has not been an inclusive space for much of its history.
“This work is based on being a remedy to our past indiscretions as a country and as a society and also providing the resources and support for our current population,” Craig said.
Ensuring representation in schools
The Long Island Strong Schools Alliance was founded to advocate for equitable representation and resources in Long Island public schools. The organization has measured how well Long Island districts have implemented DEI programs.
“Some are good, some are less active, and some have not implemented anything,” said Dr. Aisha Wilson Carter, LISSA’s vice president and the executive director for equity and inclusion at Hofstra.
“What we are required to do is to make sure that everyone gets the services and the support they need to be successful,” Wilson-Carter said. “Every child deserves that equitable education, something that allows them to reach their full potential in academic excellence.
“If this funding is removed, and this is funding that provides kids with lunch, books, computers, bilingual services, it would be detrimental to the schools’ survival,” she added.
According to the LISSA website, of the 125 Long Island school districts, 18% have made no progress to ensure equitable changes in public schools. Equitable changes include curriculum, school culture and website accessibility.
The detailed DEI report on Long Island school districts shows Nassau County districts have done more to implement DEI initiatives than Suffolk districts. DEI programs include testing, language and hearing accommodations, among others.
“There’s just so many things that go underneath that umbrella that if we were to eliminate those things, we would not be giving our children a barely adequate education experience.”
Aisha Wilson-Carter, Executive Director for Equity and Inclusion, Hofstra University
“There’s just so many things that go underneath that umbrella that if we were to eliminate those things, we would not be giving our children a barely adequate education experience,” Wilson-Carter said.
“It’s not a political issue,” she noted. “This is what our tax dollars go for — to provide an education, so it’s not a left or right issue.”
“There are some challenges to the work of DEI, and it really being misbranded as an exclusive or an oppressive practice or theory,” Craig said. “It includes everybody of all walks of life because we all bring something to the table that’s valuable, and we all need different support to be successful.”
