(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Melinda Person has issued statements on the New York State Education Department’s stand against a Federal Anti-Inclusion certification requirement involving President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to dismantle the U.S. Department Of Education, as well as the State Education Department declining to sign on to a Federal Certification placing conditions on Federal funding:

“NYSUT proudly supports the State Education Department’s stand against this disgraceful attempt to weaponize Federal power against our schools.

This directive is nothing more than an attack on our students, our Educators and the progress we've fought to achieve. 

New York will not be bullied into abandoning our core values or erasing the efforts we've made to ensure that every student - no matter their race, background or zip code - has safe and welcoming educational environments that give them a fair shot at success.

We’ve come too far to let hate and fear win.

Our students deserve better."

The State Education Department has stated it has already certified compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act multiple times and that "no further certification will be forthcoming." 

In regard to the Trump Administration's Executive Order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Person said:

“All students benefit from programs run by the U.S. Department of Education, especially lower-income students, students with disabilities and families in rural, suburban and urban communities across the Nation.

As the current Administration has now announced a clear intent to dismantle the agency, NYSUT stands ready to fight back to defend every student, every teacher, every school, every community and the resources they deserve.”

NYSUT will be monitoring further developments over the coming days and weeks and will fight to ensure New York receives the educational funding it deserves, the Union said.