SW News: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that would halt financing for diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) projects at public institutions in an attempt to restructure the state's education system. According to DeSantis, schools cannot opt out of the "ideological agenda" that DEI programs espouse.
DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 at the New College of Florida, which forbids public colleges from using state funds and will take effect on July 1.
The governor said during a press conference that the DEI acronym better reflects discrimination, alienation, and indoctrination and that such attitudes "have no place in our public institutions." Using such initiatives to accomplish an ideological goal, as DeSantis claims, is flawed on its face.
In addition, the new regulation requires colleges and universities to review courses that promote the notion that systemic racism, sexism, and power systems in the United States help to preserve social, political, and economic inequality.
Furthermore, he approved laws prohibiting public colleges from demanding "diversity statements," in which candidates explain how they will contribute to the diversity of the school if admitted.
Meanwhile, DeSantis claims that the New College of Florida attracts academics from throughout the nation because it places less emphasis on DEI and critical race theory (CRT).
Furthermore, Texan legislators have been working on a bill that would have a similar effect on the state's public university system.