LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In what many consider a bold move, the State Board of Education (SBE) has launched a fierce offensive against President Trump’s recent executive orders. Their recent resolution titled “Defending Public Education, Civil Rights, and Democracy Against Orders and Directives That Threaten Our Children and Communities” declares that, with roughly 83 executive orders and directives under his belt, the president is jeopardizing the well-being of children, the integrity of public education, and the very foundation of civil rights.
On March 11th, the board voted 5-1 along party lines, with the Democrat majority pushing through a resolution that reads more like a political manifesto than a policy statement. The resolution condemns Trump’s Title IX changes and other education policies, citing grievances that span from school funding concerns to accusations of dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
A laundry list of complaints.
Because the U.S. Department of Education has threatened the loss of federal funding if schools fail to comply with the directive to dismantle efforts which promote DEI, the SBE says in their resolution “these actions represent a direct assault on democracy, equity, and state sovereignty over public education, undermining the fundamental values of diversity, equity, and inclusion that strengthen our schools, drive innovation, and prepare all children to succeed in an increasingly global society” and “represent a direct assault disproportionately harming Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, special education, and other historically marginalized communities.”
In partnership with the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the SBE says it is committed to defending the constitutional and civil rights of all students, families, and educators in Michigan.
Among their top concerns are the “attacks” on educational access, civil rights, existing federal and state laws and democracy itself. They confirm their “unwavering commitment” to DEI and reject any federal attempts that undermine their principles. They go on to say that they support continued legal action by Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel to challenge Trump’s executive orders and prevent their enforcement.
A call to legal arms.
The resolution doesn’t just complain – it urges action. The board wants Michigan lawmakers to pass state-level protections for DEI, special education, and local curriculum control. Additionally, they also call on Congress and the U.S. Department of Education to reverse Trump’s harmful policies. The SBE also call on school districts to maintain their own DEI “within the framework of existing legal frameworks” and to consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with state and federal civil rights protections before making any policy changes in response to federal directives.
The opposition’s perspective.
However, not everyone on the board was ready to jump aboard the protest train. Republicans Tom McMillin voted no and Nikki Snyder passed on voting. In February, Snyder questioned the effectiveness of DEI, arguing it has become a “political vehicle of propaganda.” She also criticized the notion of teaching “superiority as a racial quality rather than a human quality.”
There was no vote recorded from board member Ellen Cogen Lipton who appears to have been missing from the meeting.
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Love Trump or loathe him, the Michigan State Board of Education’s resolution appears to be less about improving education and more about reinforcing political battle lines. While their concerns about funding cuts could be valid, the rest reads like a preemptive strike in an ideological war to ensure that Michigan schools remain a stronghold for progressive policies.
