‘Your student is welcome’: Bend-La Pine Schools superintendent speaks out amid federal DEI orders, state AG’s guidance
(Update: Adding video, comments from Superintendent Dr. Steve Cook)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend-La Pine school Superintendent Dr. Steve Cook tells the Problem Solvers he, along with school districts across the country, are navigating a new era of education.
"It's meaningful for students to see themselves represented in the curriculum," he said Wednesday.
In a letter last month, the U.S. Department of Education directed school districts to end all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or face a potential loss of federal funding.
But Cook says the letter has no effect on Bend-La Pine Schools, saying inclusivity will always be a part of their curriculum. The district's budget receives around $15 million a year from the federal government.
"We don't believe - didn't believe at the time when the letter came out that there was anything that they were calling out directly the school districts were doing," Cook shared. "But it was definitely a concern, because it did bring a different lens to it."
This comes as President Donald Trump continues his calls to end DEI programs nationwide.
Cook said, "When people try to simplify DEI into very specific buckets, that's not how it plays out in a school district. And so for us, it's really making sure that we're using the resources that we're allocated to meet the needs of all students. "
This week, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and 14 other state attorneys general issued guidance to schools in their states, opposing those federal directives,
In his letter, Rayfield calls for Oregon schools to maintain their anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies, to ensure schools are a safe and inclusive space.
But the school district says they're already hearing complaints.
"For example, we send out a text message that's in two languages. Some people don't like that we have two languages in a text message," Cook said. "We have families in our community that that's how they communicate. And we're going to meet them at that."
Cook tells the Problem Solvers he has one message for local parents: "Your student is welcome in our schools. Please continue to send them. Give them great opportunities to be successful, and we'll do our part in that same mission as well. "
Problem Solvers also reached out to the Redmond School District for comment. In a statement, the school district told us: "The district has been and continues to be compliant with long-standing state and federal non-discrimination laws and court cases interpreting those laws. The district will continue to work with its legal counsel to monitor changes to state and federal law that may require the district to change its policies and procedures. In the meantime, the district remains committed to serving all students in the district."
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Here's a news release this week from Rayfield, on the DEI guidance:
Attorney General Rayfield Issues Guidance For Schools On Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Accessibility Initiatives
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in issuing guidance to help K-12 schools, colleges and universities understand the legality, viability and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and practices in education.
The guidance comes in response to concerns following a Trump administration executive order and the U.S. Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” letter and FAQ document targeting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and programming in schools. The coalition’s guidance reminds educational entities that efforts to seek and support diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible educational experiences for students are legal, and that longstanding legal precedents supporting these programs cannot be changed by an executive order or a letter from the Department of Education.
“Making sure diversity, equity, and inclusion are protected in education is about giving every student a fair chance to succeed,” Rayfield said. “When efforts are made to roll back DEIA programs, it’s not just about policy – it’s about denying students the support they need to thrive.”
Opponents to diversity initiatives have sought to improperly expand the U.S. Supreme Court’s narrow ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (SFFA) far beyond its scope. This multistate guidance updates guidance issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts after the 2023 ruling. It clarifies that the recent executive order and communications from the Department of Education do not change the law with respect to higher education admissions, and they do not and cannot prohibit or restrict universities from pursuing and implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. The updated guidance also includes tips to help K-12 schools set their students up for success.
In their guidance, the attorneys general emphasize that institutions of higher education can continue to create missions and set goals related to student body diversity and equitable outcomes for students and can use all legal methods to pursue them.
The attorneys general clarify that while SFFA limited the ability of institutions of higher education to consider an applicant’s race in and of itself as a positive factor for admission, schools can still work to diversify their applicant pools and student bodies through recruitment efforts. The guidance notes that institutions do not have to ignore race when identifying prospective students for outreach and recruitment programs, provided such programs do not give students preference based on racial status, and that all students have the same opportunity to apply and compete for admission. Schools can continue to target outreach to potential applicants based on a wide range of characteristics, such as academic interests, geographic residency, financial means and socioeconomic status, family background and parental education level.
The guidance also encourages K-12 schools to strive for a school climate where all students feel safe, supported, respected and ready to learn. School leaders can do this by reviewing their current practices to ensure that their district complies with anti-discrimination, anti-bullying, and civil rights laws, and by adopting programs and policies that incorporate best practices and meet the needs of their communities. In addition, the attorneys general identify steps schools can take to ensure that all students, including those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, are prepared for college or careers.
Joining Attorney General Rayfield in this coalition are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island and Vermont
