The New York State Attorney General’s office and state Department of Education are sending a clear message to schools about book banning, student gender issues and racial equity: that diversity and inclusivity at the core of public education in New York.
In no uncertain terms, a guidance released for schools on Wednesday reminds them “of their obligation to place dignity, inclusion, and respect at the center of their educational decisions. These principles, embedded in law, are the wellspring from which sound decisions of educational policy flow.”
At a time when book challenges, racism and how to teach history can be part of any education-related conversation, the guidance offers directives that officials say are based on federal and state law.
Among other things, it says that transgender students should be able to participate in single-gender extracurricular programs, like sports, that most closely align with their gender identify and that schools should not remove books that reflect diverse perspectives because some consider them to be lewd or inappropriate.
Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young and state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa have become increasingly insistent in recent years that schools must promote inclusivity as part of their core mission. State Attorney General Letitia James joins them here.
The report focused on three areas:
Teaching and learning should reflect DEI
As part of the state’s ongoing emphasis on DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — students should have the opportunity to learn from multiple perspectives, the report said.
“Curricula should be up-to-date, accurate, and reflect the truth of the struggles diverse groups in this country have endured,” a statement from the Attorney General’s office and Education Department said. “Schools cannot ban curricular materials such as textbooks that accurately portray and critically analyze topics related to protected classes such as race, national origin, gender identity and expression, and…
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