Integration of DEI principles into corporations, institutions, and schools is a regular part of life in America. DEI is an umbrella term that covers many different legal and political programs and policies that aim to promote inclusion of minority groups.
An example of a DEI policy is Affirmative Action. This was an executive order under the Kennedy administration that encouraged anti discriminatory policies in job hiring, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Other acts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prevents discrimination against disabled people, also falls under the DEI umbrella.
Due to social movements, many more policies throughout the 21st century have promoted DEI in federal and state levels. Some examples of recent social movements that promoted DEI are the #MeToo movement and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which both protested for safer environments for marginalized groups.
In schools, DEI is used as a way to make sure minority groups have fair access to education, but DEI has become a subject of debate among politicians. Jennifer Wells, a United States government teacher at our school, explained the views of people arguing for the abolishment of DEI.
“Firstly, perceived reverse discrimination. DEI results in preferential treatment of minorities. Secondly, meritocracy concerns. Opponents contend that emphasizing diversity and inclusion may compromise merit-based systems, suggesting that opportunities should be based solely on individual qualifications without consideration of demographic factors,” Wells said
Many people argue that by using DEI to enhance inclusion, DEI actually excludes many groups of qualified people from job opportunities. Federally, anti-DEI policies have been put in place to stop this from happening.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order planning and outlining the termination of DEI-related practices in government employment, union contracts, and training programs.
Although this order was blocked by Congress and was deemed unconstitutional, many state governments have emulated this.
Our state has implemented initiatives to combat DEI. On February 18th, 2025 Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe issued Executive Order 25-18, which directed all state agencies to eliminate DEI initiatives and cease the use of state funds for DEI-related positions, policies, or training. This order emphasizes equal treatment for all groups of people. The Missouri House has also advanced legislation to ban DEI programs in state agencies.
The effects of this have already been seen locally, Missouri State University (MSU) abolished its DEI programs at the end of January. This reflects a trend that has happened throughout our country following Donald Trump’s election.
“MSU’s decision reflects a growing trend among educational institutions nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education issued a directive mandating that all federally funded schools eliminate DEI programs or risk losing funding. This prompted institutions nationwide to reassess their DEI commitments,” Wells said
Wells also emphasized that some states, such as Washington and California, say not to promote immediate action in the reduction of DEI, since the federal law remains unchanged.
38 percent of MSU’s budget comes from the state, and by eliminating DEI and aligning with state leadership’s values, they can continue giving quality education to their students.
With all of this in mind, it is important to anticipate what could happen to our school, and other public schools in our state and across the country as DEI stop’s being implemented.
“DEI is present in the school curriculum. We integrate diverse perspectives and inclusive content to ensure representation of different cultures, races, genders, and abilities. Teachers also receive DEI training to promote cultural competency and reduce bias,” Wells said
Wells also emphasized that DEI in schools provides equal opportunities and resources to all students. At our school specifically, we may need to reassess our implementation of DEI in the near future, depending on how the government implements anti-DEI policies. For student’s at our school that are seeking scholarships for college, this has already changed significantly.
“Scholarships that previously considered race or ethnicity as a criterion are undergoing significant changes: The University of Missouri has announced it will honor existing financial aid commitments that were awarded based on race-based criteria prior to the recent state and federal guidance. However, future scholarships will no longer include race or ethnicity as selection criteria,” Wells said
Currently, how anti-DEI policies will affect public schools in our state is still undetermined, however these policies are already affecting higher education in our state, and will likely affect students at our school if they choose to pursue higher education or job opportunities after high school.
