Nebraska Department of Education plans to sign federal anti-DEI program memo

Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher told schools in an email Tuesday that he intends to sign a federal memo requiring schools to certify compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“After careful consideration, I intend to sign the Certification on behalf of NDE as requested to ensure there are no disruptions in federal funding,” Maher wrote in the email.

The U.S. Department of Education sent the letter to all state commissioners earlier this month. It requires them to sign or risk losing federal funding. Compliance includes ensuring schools are not using diversity, equity and inclusion programs “to advantage one’s race over another.”

States are required to sign the certification by Thursday. At least 17 other states intend to sign the certification, while 16 are declining.

In the email, Commissioner Maher asked districts to also sign the certification by 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The federal memo was one of several federal actions the state has been keeping an eye on. In an interview earlier this month with Nebraska Public Media News, Maher said the state is watching to see how changes in the federal education department could impact programs for students with disabilities, low-income students and career and technical education.

By way of full disclosure, Brian Maher is a commissioner on Nebraska Public Media's governing board, NETC.