Wisconsin DPI declines US Dept. of Education certification demanding DEI cuts, insists state is already compliant with requirements

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Friday, April 18, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced it will not comply with federal demands to drop diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

In recent weeks, the US Department of Education said federal funding could be tied to states complying with the demands, but the DPI maintains they're already following the law.

The Wisconsin DPI says they're already complying with federal requirements, and these latest demands from the Department of Education are not in compliance with federal law.

It could set up a court battle, with hundreds of millions of dollars hanging in the balance for schools in both blue and red districts.

DPI Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly told us, "Washington DC should not be dictating how schools in Wisconsin are educating their kids."

In a statement, the DPI called the Department of Education's demands a "direct threat to local control of Wisconsin’s schools."

Underly said recent demands that school districts must cut diversity, equity, and inclusion programs is an unacceptable attempt to override local administrators and elected school boards who know their communities best. "And that's absolutely unacceptable," she said.

As a result, the DPI "will not be signing or submitting a recent certification request."

Underly says districts deserve clarity, not confusion.

She said, "I hope that they see it the way we see it, that we're following the law."

Outgoing MPS board vice president Jilly Gokalgandhi went a step further at Thursday's board meeting, saying, "The rise of authoritarianism, and the normalization of fascist rhetoric are no longer distant possibilities."

Gokalgandhi said schools that practice equity, diversity, and critical thinking are being targeted and must be protected.

Every year, the state's 460 local education agencies must sign assurances to receive federal funding.

The DPI says they already did that. In a letter to the Department of Education, the DPI's attorney wrote, "Each LEA [local education agency] has certified it will comply with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements."

Underly said, "We're just reaffirming to them we are already following the law."

Despite repeated requests, Underly said the DPI has gotten no response from the Department of Education. "We've asked them the basic, critical questions. Received no answers. So that's unacceptable."

At the start of the current school year, Wisconsin received nearly $850 million to distribute to school districts.

Federal funding is doled out in the fall, so if something were to change, it would impact next school year.