February 22, 2023 Office for Civil Rights Issues Fact Sheet on Diversity & Inclusion Activities The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released a fact sheet for educators, parents, and students on the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in federally funded spaces. The fact sheet confirms that DEI training and similar activities are generally consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In most circumstances, they are permitted in states, school districts, public schools, and public and private colleges. About the Fact Sheet This fact sheet was created in response to confusion regarding the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion activities in schools. It clarifies that federal civil rights laws do not categorically prohibit schools from offering activities such as instruction on the impact of racism, cultural competency training, or school climate surveys. Download the Fact Sheet Fact Sheet: Diversity & Inclusion Activities Under Title VI | English Fact Sheet: Diversity & Inclusion Activities Under Title VI | Spanish About Title VI Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Activities intended to further objectives such as diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not prohibited under Title VI. Title VI allows activities such as: diversity, equity, and inclusion training instruction in or training on the impact of racism or systemic racism cultural competency training or other nondiscrimination trainings efforts to assess or improve school climate, including through creation of student, staff, and/or parent teams, use of community focus groups, or use of climate surveys student assemblies or programs focused on antiharassment or antibullying investigations of and issuance of reports concerning the causes of racial disparities within a school use of specific words in school policies, programs, or activities, such as equity, discrimination, inclusion, diversity, systemic racism, or similar terms Learn More OCR is responsible for the enforcement of Title VI. To contact OCR for technical assistance, call 1-800-421-3481 (TDD: 1-800-877-8339) or email OCR@ed.gov. The Department of Education also funds regional Equity Assistance Centers, which provide technical assistance and training at the request of school boards and other related governmental agencies on issues such as racial harassment, prejudice reduction, and other issues occasioned by desegregation. To contact the Equity Assistance Centers, visit the Department of Education’s website. To learn more at www.ed.gov/ocr.
