The **Department of Education** is currently urging parents to voice their concerns regarding **diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)** efforts in their children’s educational institutions.
Recently, the federal entity **launched the “End DEI” portal**, an online resource that allows parents to file complaints about **”discrimination based on race or sex”** in publicly funded **K-12 schools**.
Previously, the department had an existing mechanism to address **discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, and other protected attributes**, but this new portal seems to specifically target **curricula and policies that have drawn criticism from conservatives**. The submission form indicates that students deserve an education **”free from divisive ideologies and indoctrination.”**
### **A Conservative Initiative Against DEI**
The **Department of Education’s announcement** regarding the portal included a comment from **Tiffany Justice**, co-founder of **Moms for Liberty**, a far-right group noted for **advocating for book bans and supporting Donald Trump’s presidential run**. Justice asserted that public schools are imparting **”critical theory, rogue sex education, and divisive ideologies.”**
“Parents, now is your opportunity to present the evidence of the betrayal that has occurred in our public schools,” she stated.
Conservatives have previously favored **hotlines** to report classroom conversations they find concerning. In **2022, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin** initiated a comparable reporting system, and in **2021, a chapter of Moms for Liberty in New Hampshire** even offered a **$500 reward** for the first individual who could present proof of a teacher breaching a law limiting discussions of **”divisive concepts.”**
### **Functionality of the Portal**
The **End DEI portal** enables parents to provide:
– Their **email address**
– The involved **school or district**
– A **concise description** of the alleged discrimination
– Supporting documents in **JPG, JPEG, PNG, or PDF formats**
The **Department of Education** notes that these submissions could lead to **formal investigations**.
### **Teachers and Unions Respond**
Prominent teachers’ unions, such as the **American Federation of Teachers (AFT)** and the **National Education Association (NEA)**, are resisting the **Trump administration’s** attempts to abolish **DEI initiatives** in schools.
NEA President **Becky Pringle** dismissed the **End DEI portal** as a **”stunt”** and defended DEI programs, asserting that they **”foster a sense of belonging where individuals feel at ease sharing their perspectives and lived experiences.”**
In addition, the **AFT has initiated legal action** against the Trump administration for threatening to **terminate funding** to schools that fail to adhere to its order to eliminate efforts involving **”diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity”** by **February 28**.
In a **Feb. 14 memo**, the administration contended that such programs **unlawfully favor specific racial groups**. AFT President **Randi Weingarten** criticized the memo, labeling it **”vague and distinctly unconstitutional.”**
“This is a serious assault on students, our profession, and the pursuit of knowledge itself,” Weingarten stated. “It would obstruct attempts to broaden access to education and undermine the promise of **equal opportunity for all**—a foundational principle of the United States since its inception.”