April 17, 2025

Dear CCS Families & Colleagues, 

We are writing today to provide information about recent federal and state governmental action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in schools. 

Our district and community have always been committed to creating and sustaining supportive spaces for all of our students, staff, and families, and we remain committed to that work. We also have been and will remain in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”), a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, including public schools.

Here is a timeline of recent events:

• The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter on April 3 to all state departments of education, informing them that they must collect signed certification letters from their state’s public school districts verifying compliance with the certification, titled “Reminder of Legal Obligations Undertaken in Exchange for Receiving Federal Financial Assistance and Request for Certification under Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the legal case of SFFA v. Harvard.”
• The certification asks districts to acknowledge that they will comply with Title VI and the U.S. Department of Education’s recently expanded interpretation of Title VI, as outlined in a recent Dear Colleague Letter, which stands for the premise that “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs can be used to discriminate in violation of Title VI. The certification asks districts to confirm that they are not engaging in any “illegal DEI practices,” although the term is undefined in the certification. The stated consequences for illegal DEI practices include the elimination of federal funding, potential initiation of litigation by the Department of Justice to recover previously received federal funds, as well as liability under the False Claims Act.
• The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (“ODEW”) contacted Ohio schools on April 7, requesting that they sign this certification letter no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, or risk losing federal funding. 
• We understand that multiple lawsuits have been filed regarding this certification, but as of the date of this communication, the certification remains in place.

Title VI provides that: “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Columbus City Schools is compliant with Title VI and regularly confirms its compliance with nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI, in its consolidated grants application under the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) facilitated by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and operated by the U.S. Department of Education. As Columbus City Schools is in compliance with federal law, the school district remains eligible for federal funding.

Tonight, the Board of Education held a special meeting to discuss this request for certification and approved a resolution that confirms the District’s compliance with law and commitment to a nondiscriminatory learning environment, and that addresses the Board’s response to the certification request. Please find the resolution attached to this email. 

At Columbus City Schools, we remain deeply committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students, families, teachers, and staff.

Sincerely,

Board of Education Vice President Jennifer Adair, Designated BOE Spokesperson by Board President Michael Cole

Superintendent/CEO Dr. Angela Chapman