The Department of Education clarified that observances such as Black History Month are not in violation of an order warning state education departments that they must remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies or risk losing federal funding. The guidance came after the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to the departments of education in all 50 states in mid-February notifying them of a Feb. 28 deadline to comply with the order. "Title VI prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin," the guidance reads, adding "Schools may not operate policies










