Florida colleges barred from using state, federal funds for DEI programs

Florida state colleges are barred from using state or federal money to fund diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to a rule implemented Wednesday by the state’s Board of Education.  

The board said strict regulations would be put on the Florida College System regarding the use of tax dollars to support DEI, which it defined as “programs that categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment.” 

The board also announced “Principles of Sociology” could no longer be a course and needs to be replaced with a general class about American history.  

“Higher education must return to its essential foundations of academic integrity and the pursuit of knowledge instead of being corrupted by destructive ideologies,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr.  

“These actions today ensure that we will not spend taxpayers’ money supporting DEI and radical indoctrination that promotes division in our society,” he added. 

The adopted rule will affect 28 of Florida’s state schools. 

It follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) law he signed last year that banned public colleges from using tax dollars to implement or promote DEI initiatives.

This is the latest in steps conservatives have taken in their fight against DEI, which they describe as a threat to education.

Last year, 40 bills were introduced across the country to restrict the use of diversity statements, mandatory diversity trainings and DEI programs, according to a tracker from The Chronicle of Higher Education.