KY Republican lawmaker criticizes Fayette schools in push to cut DEI from K-12

A Republican state senator on Tuesday criticized Fayette County Public Schools while discussing her draft bill for 2026 to stop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools.

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, noted that Fayette and Jefferson County schools, the two largest districts in Kentucky, were the only ones statewide that did not sign a letter issued by President Donald Trump’s administration assuring federal officials it had eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Tichenor told the Kentucky Interim Joint Committee on Education that such DEI initiatives were discriminatory, and she plans to file a bill for the second straight year forcing school districts to eliminate such efforts.

Tichenor also criticized the district for traveling to Australia for what she described as a DEI conference.

Trace Bruno, chief of staff for Fayette County Public Schools, told the Herald-Leader on Wednesday the trip was in partnership with Commerce Lexington, and the district has a long-standing membership with the group that organized the conference, the Global Cities Education Network.

Bruno said the conference focused on social emotional learning, and the district, along with the University of Kentucky, recently hosted members of the network in Lexington, too.

Democrats on the legislative committee opposed Tichenor’s proposal to eliminate DEI in Kentucky’s K-12 schools, including Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, a Fayette County Public School District employee who works as a support professional.

“Diversity is not anything that people should be afraid of,” said Camuel. “People should not be afraid to learn about other cultures or to learn about other religions or those who may be differently abled or what our history is.”

“I just don’t see how your bill, how this proposal, helps Kentuckians,” Camuel told Tichenor.

“I feel like your bill brings division to educators,” said Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, who is also a public schools educator.

Rooting out and eliminating DEI efforts in public schools and universities has been a major focal point of President Donald Trump’s administration over the past year. The same has been true at the state level, where Republicans in Kentucky and elsewhere have pressured public organizations to scrap programs that mention gender or race.

Tichenor filed a measure to end DEI in K-12 schools in 2025, but it did not move in the General Assembly.

She said Tuesday the legislation for the 2026 General Assembly, which begins Jan. 6, will be similar, with some revisions. Tichenor said it will aim “to eliminate the wasteful, ineffective and divisive DEI initiatives that have become interwoven in K-12 institutions.”

The 2025 General Assembly approved House Bill 4, which requires public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to dismantle and defund all DEI initiatives.

Tichenor said she was hopeful that similar measures can be taken for K-12 schools. She said DEI has not closed achievement gaps among minority students and students who are economically disadvantaged as promised.

Tichenor also noted that Jefferson County Schools lost a $9.7 million federal grant because of its DEI practices.

Jefferson County Public School officials did not immediately respond Wednesday morning to a request for comment.

This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 1:05 PM.