After just a few days’ silence in response to the most recent communiqué from the Trump administration that would have an effect on kids, Chris Reykdal, the state’s superintendent of public instruction, got here out swinging.
“We won’t be intimidated,” he stated Thursday in a 12-minute videotaped statement that pushes again arduous on a letter commanding Washington colleges, and people throughout the nation, to stop all “race-based” applications — or threat dropping federal funding.
That is welcome management from Reykdal, nevertheless it doesn’t come with out threat.
The Performing Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights within the U.S. Division of Training, Craig Trainor, stated in a Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” letter that efforts to help the “nebulous objectives” of variety and fairness are tantamount to racial discrimination and, thus, unlawful. Any program utilizing race in its decision-making round hiring, monetary assist, scholarships, or self-discipline would even be within the crosshairs, he added.
It’s price stating that federal {dollars} comprise solely 7% of Washington state’s complete Ok-12 schooling funds: about $258 million for particular schooling, $288 million for low-income college students, and extra for college feeding and grant applications.
That’s not an insignificant sum of money, however a lot of it comes by formulation set by Congress, which might require an act of Congress to repeal. Reykdal, a former highschool historical past instructor, additionally factors out that presidential govt orders — on “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schools,” as an illustration — are usually not legal guidelines.
Many have faulted Reykdal’s management on scholar outcomes, which have fallen for practically a decade. Throughout the identical interval, colleges have taken on extra duty for righting societal imbalances — offering meals, psychological well being providers and even fundamental well being care for youths.
Some level to this divergence as proof that schooling has misplaced its approach, its main sense of mission. However it’s completely doable to care for youngsters’s well-being and construct up their mental muscle mass on the identical time. Many colleges show it every single day.
Wherever one lands on that query, one factor in Reykdal’s message to Washington, D.C., ought to resonate with all residents of Washington state: Again off.
The federal authorities has by no means made good on its promise to cowl 40% of particular schooling prices right here — not even shut. Nor has it evinced a lot curiosity in public schooling general, which has all the time been a matter of native management. Solely now, to make politically motivated noise, does it weigh in.
The superintendent is true. Washingtonians won’t be intimidated.
