Fayette County school leaders say they will not sign DEI federal compliance
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story indicated Fayette County Public Schools told federal officials. they slashed DEI programs. That was inaccurate.
Fayette County Public Schools leaders say they will not sign a letter assuring federal officials it has eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Instead, district officials sent a separate signed statement saying it believes it has complied with all civil rights laws.
District officials on Wednesday initially released to reporters a statement that included the letter to federal education officials and 41 pages of documents that showed it had made some changes to its DEI practices, including changing the title of an employee.
Later in the day, they clarified that the letter it provided was not a compliance letter to the Department of Education, but instead a separate letter attesting the district is following all civil rights laws.
In March, the U.S. Department of Education sent letters to state education and local school districts warning education officials if they failed to sign a declaration saying they had eliminated DEI practices the department believes were contrary to federal law, those departments could lose federal funding.
Kentucky Department of Education officials announced last week they had signed the declaration saying it had eliminated most DEI practices. Kentucky Department of Education officials also told school districts they did not believe local school districts had to sign the declaration because of a technicality.
In a Wednesday statement, Fayette County Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and Fayette County School Board President Tyler Murphy said the school district is committed to serving all students.
“For our community, we want to reaffirm that Fayette County Public Schools remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every student receives the support they need to thrive,” according to the statement.
“As one of the largest employers and an economic driver in our community, we are committed to making decisions that uplift and unify rather than divide and demean.”
Kentucky’s second-largest public school district also said it will defend its rights to teach all students.
President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Education have attacked DEI initiatives in all government agencies. That has led to immediate changes in public schools. The University of Kentucky recently canceled graduation ceremonies for Black and LGBTQ students.
It’s not clear what types of programs will be nixed after school districts sign the federal Department of Education memo.
Here are highlights of the Wednesday statement released by Liggins and Murphy:
“In reference to the U.S. Department of Education’s recent letter to the Kentucky Department of Education regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, FCPS submitted the attached statement and documentation.”
“We want to reaffirm that Fayette County Public Schools remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every student receives the support they need to thrive.”
“FCPS is a mission-driven organization—not only because federal law requires it, but because it is our moral obligation to the children we serve. We are entrusted with the education and care of more than 42,000 students, and we take that responsibility seriously. As one of the largest employers and an economic driver in our community, we are committed to making decisions that uplift and unify rather than divide and demean.”
“Our decisions are grounded in data, driven by student needs, and defined by outcomes. We use data to determine where and how to allocate resources to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education, regardless of their race, language, income level, or background.”
“We continue to fully comply with the requirements of Title VI and all civil rights laws, not simply as a legal obligation, but as a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. We will also continue to support and defend the programs that help our students—all of our students—reach their full potential.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
