Regarding the NY State Education Department (NYSED), which declined to sign on to a federal certification placing conditions on federal funding:

The New York State United Teachers proudly supports NYSED’s stand against this disgraceful attempt to weaponize federal power against our schools. This directive is nothing more than an attack on our students, our educators and the progress we’ve fought to achieve.

New York will not be bullied into abandoning our core values or erasing the efforts we’ve made to ensure that every student—no matter their race, background or zip code—has safe and welcoming educational environments that give them a fair shot at success. We’ve come too far to let hate and fear win; our students deserve better.

NYSED stated it has already certified compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act multiple times and that “no further certification will be forthcoming.”

Melinda Person
President, New York State United Teachers
Latham, NY