State and Federal Issues: Resources for Educators

This page will provide ongoing updates on DEI Executive Orders, State Budget Proposals, and more.

Please stay tuned to this page for more resources as we continue to assemble them.

DEI-Related Executive Orders 

March 18, 2025

On Friday, a federal appeals court lifted the nationwide injunction that previously prohibited the enforcement of President Trump’s two executive orders related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI):

• #14,151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing
• #14,173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

During the legal proceedings, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the executive orders were only targeting DEI programs that violate existing federal civil rights laws, and the judges’ decision affirmed this approach. Washington state’s antidiscrimination laws fit squarely within federal antidiscrimination laws, and school districts whose existing DEI-related programming aligns with state and federal law do not need to make changes in response to these two executive orders. If your district has specific concerns about your DEI-related programming, please consult your legal counsel, who will be able to review the facts of your specific situation and provide counsel that is tailored to your school district.  

It should be noted that two of the three judges that issued the decision wrote that the President’s efforts related to DEI could eventually raise concerns about First Amendment rights if enforcement actions go beyond the narrow scope of the orders. 

Moving forward, school districts should direct employees who administer federal grants and contracts to pay close attention to any surveys, certifications, and grant/contract language and amendments addressing a district’s DEI and/or related programming. Employees should discuss any response with legal counsel before moving forward. Please alert OSPI immediately if your district experiences any pause, freeze, or unplanned reduction in federal funding. 

OSPI is closely monitoring this situation and others to understand how recent federal executive orders and related court decisions impact Washington’s schools, and we aim to provide you with timely and accurate guidance.

State Budget Proposals

March 18, 2025

Below, please see a letter that we sent to all legislators last week in advance of the House and Senate finalizing their budget proposals. They are expected to release those proposals early next week. As always, our team will immediately dive into the details of the budgets and we will share high-level information with you next week. A couple of weeks later, we will have fiscal models on both budget proposals available for you and your teams.  

We understand that you will likely receive information about the proposals from your associations and from the media before you receive more detailed information from OSPI, and we appreciate your understanding of our consistent interest in communicating with you in ways that are timely, accurate, detailed, and responsive to your needs.