A few weeks ago, the Ohio Department of Education imposed a certification mandate, requiring all superintendents to sign off on diversity, equity and inclusion bans.

It came as a directive from the U.S. Department of Education that places millions of dollars of funding in jeopardy if any district refuses to comply.

As the timer ticks down on this demand to sign, local organizations like the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee and the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches are frustrated. The groups attribute the root of the problem to ignorance.

"People think it's race but it's any kind of diversity," Penny Wells, co-organizer of the MLK Planning Committee said. "It's a diversity between male and female, it's diversity between physically handicapped and not or physical disabilities and not, it's the difference between people with learning disabilities so its a difference of being hearing impaired and hearing," she said.

Wells also called out racism.

"There's all kinds of diversity and if we say we don't want to have diversity, equity, inclusion, we're saying we don't want any of those differences," Wells said. "The opposite if we're talking about racial diversity, if you don't believe in racial diversity then you believe in segregation," she said.

The Mahoning Valley Association of Churches echoes the same sentiments, adding students will be the ones to pay the price.

"It's gonna impact how they learn, it's gonna impact the services that are provided to them and then overall in a whole, those students might end up being less successful," Vicki Vicars, executive director of MVAC said.

Both groups have sent letters to Governor Mike DeWine, calling for him to stand against this.

"This is our tax money that's in that funding, it's not some pocket funding that the government has, this is our money so if they're not going to use it to benefit the community the way that it is written into law, then we have to find other ways to get that message across," Vicars said.

Youngstown City Schools Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor is pushing back. He released a letter expressing his opposition to the mandate, calling it harmful and asking federal education leaders to reconsider.

 

Batchelor's letter to the Youngstown Board of Education reads:

Statement of Opposition to the DEI Certification Mandate
"Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary
trouble."
— John Lewis

In the spirit of that call to courage and as a district leader committed to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students, I respectfully express my opposition to the certification requirement imposed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce at the direction of the U.S. Department of Education.

This mandate compels superintendents to certify compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws with a newly emphasized focus on Title VI, interpreted through the lens of the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. While I fully support adherence to laws that prohibit discrimination, I am deeply concerned that the certification guidance, in its current form, creates a chilling effect on legitimate efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our schools.

Importantly, this is not just about race. The broader impact of this guidance threatens inclusive efforts that support students of all backgrounds, including those related to socioeconomic status, disability, gender identity, language, and more. True equity work encompasses every student who has historically faced barriers to full participation and success in our schools. DEI programs and policies are essential tools in addressing long-standing disparities and ensuring that all students—regardless of race, background, or identity—have equal access to educational opportunities. The broad and ambiguous language in the guidance document threatens to undermine these efforts by encouraging overly cautious or reactionary policy reversals that may do more harm than good.

Moreover, the rushed timeline for certification places undue pressure on school districts to make potentially significant policy changes without adequate deliberation or community input. Requiring such swift compliance without room for local decision-making or meaningful engagement undermines the spirit of educational autonomy and stakeholder collaboration. Simply put, this mandate under the threat of loss of funding necessary to educate ALL children
and threatening my professional licensure is unfair and undemocratic.

Therefore, I oppose the mandate as currently presented and urge state and federal education leaders to reconsider its implementation. I call for clear, balanced guidance that protects civil rights while also affirming the value of DEI efforts in education.

Respectfully submitted to the Youngstown Board of Education and public stakeholders

April 8, 2025 by Jeremy Batchelor

 

A letter from the MLK Jr. Planning Committee and MVAC to Governor DeWine reads:

April 17, 2025

Dear Governor DeWine,

We oppose the mandate from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which compels school superintendents to certify compliance with the federal mandate that they are following federal civil rights laws and ending any discriminating diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
We believe the mandate is an intimidation tactic by threatening to withhold funding (Title I and Title II) from the school districts if they don't comply. Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights said, "Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right." He forgets that federal money is taxpayers' money. Withholding Title I and II would affect districts with high poverty rates. Title II focuses on training teachers and other school leaders. Title I is used for student services, which will include educational opportunities, particularly in reading and math. It aims to help students meet state standards.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than just race. It also includes gender, language, socioeconomic status, and physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. For years, inclusion meant creating learning environments and including those with learning disabilities, where all students learned together in the general classroom. How can teachers be expected to meet students' needs without providing differentiated lessons? According to the state of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, teachers are required to differentiate education. This is an example of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
If we do not have diversity, does that mean we have separate classes for girls and boys or separate classes for Black and white students? That is segregation. Research shows Black students benefit by having at least one teacher of color. In addition, research shows white students' problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills increase when they have at least one teacher of color.

Who is better equipped to decide how to meet the diverse needs of all students than the schools themselves? The goal should be true equity for all students to allow them to reach their full potential.
We are asking you, the governor of Ohio, to reconsider the implementation of this mandate as it is currently presented.
Thank you,

Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee of Mahoning County

 

All superintendents must sign the mandate by April 24th or risk losing funding.