LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s superintendent of schools is raising concerns about a federal education memorandum issued earlier this month that’s aimed at rolling back efforts to encourage and embrace diversity.

On April 3, the U.S. Department of Education issued a four-page memorandum to public school superintendents across the nation, reaffirming that federal funding for school districts is contingent upon compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, said Superintendent Brock Falkenberg.

Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

“Expressed in the form of a positive mindset this is about supporting all students,” said Falkenberg.

“In Lake County, the value of supporting all students is embedded in everything we do. This value is not adopted because federal law demands it, but because it reflects who we are as a Lake County community and what we, the community, believe. Our commitment to nondiscrimination would remain unchanged even in the absence of Title VI,” Falkenberg said.

Falkenberg said that, what is more concerning in the memo is the ambiguous assertion that diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs may be at odds with federal law.

“The document provides no definition of DEI, no examples of what is considered noncompliant, and no clear guidance for public schools. This vague language, combined with what appears to be an emerging pattern of ambiguous communication from federal agencies, including a similar ‘Dear Colleague’ letter issued on Feb. 14, suggests a shift toward threats and posturing rather than clear policy and guidance,” Falkenberg said.

“This is deeply problematic,” he said.

“DEI is not a slogan or a box to check in Lake County. It is a reflection of our community and a core aspect of our mission to serve every child. Diversity is not optional in Lake County, it is our lived reality. Our families represent a wide range of racial, cultural, religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our students include English language learners, children with disabilities, LGBTQ+ youth, and students from every political and social walk of life. You cannot ban or regulate diversity. It exists, and we choose to honor and leverage it,” Falkenberg explained.

“Equity, meanwhile, is how we ensure that every student has what they need to learn and succeed. It’s not about favoritism or unfair advantage, it’s about fairness,” said Falkenberg.

“Equity means providing a wheelchair for a student with mobility issues, lunch for students facing food insecurity, or flexible academic programs for students dealing with a health crisis or family emergency. Equity is meeting students where they are, giving them the tools and support they need, and holding high expectations for all,” he said.

Inclusion, Falkenberg explained, “is simply the practice of making sure every student, every family, and every staff member feels valued, respected, and welcome in our schools. That includes opportunities to engage in clubs, community events, cultural celebrations, and educational programs that reflect our shared values and diverse experiences.”

Across Lake County, over $17.1 million of annual school districts’ budgets comes from federal grants, most notably Title I, which supports students in low-income communities, and Individuals with Disabilities Act, or IDEA, which Falkenberg said provides partial funding for special education services.

“This funding is critical to serving our students and should never be used as leverage to pressure school districts into abandoning the values of the communities they serve or compromising their commitment to children,” Falkenberg said.

The Pledge of Allegiance, Falkenberg points out, ends with the statement, “With liberty and justice for all.”

“Our movement forward as a county is dependent on all students and children thriving, Falkenberg said. “Something is fundamentally wrong when school leaders are asked to choose between critical federal support and doing what is right for students.”

Falkenberg added, “In Lake County, we will continue to stand for all children without exception. We will not allow vague threats or rhetoric to derail the progress we have made. We will not retreat from our responsibility to prepare every child, regardless of background, to thrive, while they contribute meaningfully to society, the workforce, and our democracy.”