National Activities

Updates school districts on two court cases involving the U.S. Department of Education’s actions to require certification of compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/04/Favorable-Rulings-in-Title-VI-Court-Cases.pdf

Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force that will be responsible for coordinating efforts related to AI education and implementing policy to promote appropriate integration of AI into education, providing AI training for educators and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/advancing-artificial-intelligence-education-for-american-youth/

Directs executive agencies to address the issue of disciplining students based on racial characteristics and assist local educational agencies and State educational agencies in preventing discrimination under Title VI in the application of student discipline.       

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinstating-common-sense-school-discipline-policies/

The letter serves as MDE’s response to the U.S. Department of Education’s “Request for Certification,” indicating that MDE has already provided the requisite guarantee that it has complied and will continue to comply with Title VI and its implementing regulations and noting that “Michigan’s more than 800 LEAs have previously certified their compliance with Title VI.”

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/04/ED-Title-VI-Letter-Response.pdf

Memorandum sent to Michigan school districts and public school academies sharing and explaining MDE’s response to the U.S. Department of Education’s request that MDE certify both state and local education agency compliance with anti-discrimination requirements.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Links/2025/04/Michigan-Title-VI-Response.pdf

MDE clarifies how much may be lost in federal funding if the U.S. Department of Education doesn’t honor the previously established extended deadline of March 28, 2026, for reimbursement requests for Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations and American Rescue Plan funds.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2025/04/01/mde-provides-clarification-on-school-funding-being-pulled-back-by-federal-government

The statements by State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice and State Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Pugh explain that changing the deadline for reimbursement requests for Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations and American Rescue Plan funds will have significant financial impact on multiple Michigan school districts that met criteria set by the U.S. Department of Education for extending the districts’ deadlines to request reimbursement under the funds.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2025/03/31/state-supt-and-sbe-issue-statement-on-usde-pulling-back-funding

On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced it modified the deadline for reimbursement requests for Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations and American Rescue Plan funds to March 28, 2025. The previous extended deadline was March 28, 2026. This document identifies Michigan school districts that were previously approved to submit delayed requests for late reimbursement of their pre-approved projects.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Links/2025/03/ESF-Funding-Letter--Sec-McMahon.pdf

Michigan Department of Education Press Release issued in response to Executive Order calling for closing the U.S. Department of Education.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2025/03/20/order-to-abolish-usde

The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education to the maximum extent appropriate and as permitted by law.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/improving-education-outcomes-by-empowering-parents-states-and-communities/

Issued in response to the February 28 FAQs and highlighting specific areas of content of the document.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/03/Diversity-Guidance-3-6-25.pdf

U.S. Department of Education document intended to anticipate and answer questions that may be raised in response to the Department’s February 14 Dear Colleague letter and how its Office of Civil Rights will enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/media/document/frequently-asked-questions-about-racial-preferences-and-stereotypes-under-title-vi-of-civil-rights-act-109530.pdf

Shares resources that may be used, along with advice from retained legal counsel, “when making decisions and educating [school] staff related to the educational rights of the children in your community and staff responsibilities.”

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/02/USDE-Dear-Colleague-Letter-and-Diversity.pdf

From the U.S. Department of Education, clarifying and reaffirming the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and ensuring that their policies and actions comply with existing civil rights law.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/media/document/dear-colleague-letter-sffa-v-harvard-109506.pdf

Reminds schools of protections in Michigan law as well as best practice recommendations about how to support all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/02/LGBTQ-Student-Guidance-Memo.pdf

Published by the National School Boards Association addressing immigration enforcement in public schools.

Source: http://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NSBA/dfc2722c-752e-43ee-b165-99ed3a3c9d30/UploadedImages/Documents/NSBA_2025_Immigration_Guide__Final.pdf

Prioritizes Title IX enforcement against educational institutions and related athletic associations that require female students to compete with or against or to appear unclothed before males and directs the U.S. Department of Education to affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities and all-female locker rooms.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/

The information provided in this document are answers to frequently asked questions and other important considerations resulting from a member webinar held on Feb. 4, 2025. This is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. For specific legal concerns, please consult an attorney.

Source: http://www.masb.org/docs/default-source/email/faq-eowebinar-02072025.pdf

From the U.S. Department of Education, confirming that Title IX protection will be based on biological sex and the Department will enforce Title IX under the provisions of the 2020 Title IX Rule in regard to the definition of sexual harassment, the procedural protections owed to complainants and respondents, the provision of supportive measures to complainants, and school-level reporting processes.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/media/document/dear-colleague-letter-sffa-v-harvard-109506.pdf

Seeks to cut federal funding for schools that teach what the Executive Order describes as “gender ideology and critical race theory” while protecting parental rights and reinstating the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education and influence civics lessons in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary.

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/

Instructs the Department of Education to issue guidance on how states can used federal funding to support K-12 educational choice initiatives and directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize school choice programs in the Department’s discretionary grant programs.

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/expanding-educational-freedom-and-opportunity-for-families/

Provides information on how immigration enforcement could impact Michigan public schools.

Source: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/01/Protecting-All-Students-Memo-Translations.pdf

Requires every federal grant or contract to certify it is compliant with “anti-discrimination” laws and does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate “anti-discrimination” laws and directs the Office of Management and Budget to review all processes, directives, and remove all reference to DEI “under whatever name they appear” and terminate all mandates, requirements, programs, and activities.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/

Provides that it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female, and directs the Executive Branch to enforce all sex-protective laws under that policy by requiring federal agencies to remove references that promote gender ideology and prohibit federal funds from being used to promote gender ideology.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/

Directs relevant federal agencies to take action to remove undocumented immigrants from the country, and with the rescission of the “protected areas” designation, the Executive Order creates the possibility of immigration enforcement on school grounds.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion/