DEI in Schools Update

They listened—because we didn’t back down.

After hundreds of calls and emails, and a community that refused to stay quiet, the Vermont Agency of Education has certified compliance with Title VI—but on its own terms, not Trump’s.

The letter submitted by Secretary Zoie Saunders is not a capitulation. It is, in fact, a rebuke of the federal overreach that attempted to reframe DEI as unlawful or discriminatory. The AOE made clear: Vermont’s DEI practices are legal, necessary, and will continue.

Let’s be honest: this isn’t where we started.

We were right to be alarmed. The original guidance was vague, ambiguous, and too close for comfort to the Trump administration’s playbook—a legal sleight of hand intended to scare states into silence or compliance. And yes, Vermont nearly followed that path. But because we spoke up, the AOE’s final response includes a long list of objections, refusals, and reassertions of what we’ve said from the beginning:

• There is no legal definition of “illegal DEI.”
  
• Vermont has never violated Title VI.
  
• DEI programs that foster inclusion are not discriminatory.
  
• And schools can and should continue teaching about race, supporting affinity spaces, and hiring DEI coordinators.
  

This letter does what we asked for: it rejects the federal government’s attempt to criminalize inclusion, challenges the legality of their request, and defends Vermont’s right to educate its children with equity at the center.

Let’s celebrate this—but let’s not forget what it took to get here.

We were vilified, called partisan, accused of dishonesty—all for standing up for what we know is right. We were told our concerns were exaggerated, that we were stirring up outrage. But now, even the Agency itself is calling out the Trump administration’s directive for what it is: a political stunt meant to create fear, confusion, and silence.

So yes, this is a win. But it’s also a warning.

If we hadn’t fought, this letter would have looked very different. And if we stop fighting, the next one might.

We demand more than technical compliance—we demand moral leadership.

We are asking Vermont’s leaders to:

• Explicitly and publicly reaffirm DEI as a core educational value.
  
• Ensure that equity advocates are included in future policy discussions, especially those related to civil rights compliance.
  
• Continue to protect vulnerable students—not just in writing, but in budget priorities, policy design, and classroom realities.
  

We didn’t just protect DEI in this moment—we exposed how fragile our protections really are. And we’ll keep showing up, again and again, to ensure that Vermont never has to hesitate when it comes to justice. Join us.

Because when we fight together, we win.

And we’re just getting started.