News Summary
The Greenville County School Board voted to revise its DEI policy, renaming it to ‘Equal Opportunity and Fair Treatment’ and eliminating specific references to race and gender.
Greenville, South Carolina – The Greenville County School Board voted 6-1 to move forward with a proposal to revise its “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” (DEI) policy, opting to rename it to “Equal Opportunity and Fair Treatment.” This significant shift requires a second vote at the next school board meeting scheduled for June 24 to become final.
Key changes to the policy include the removal of references to DEI, modifying a line that once promoted an inclusive environment to state, “Racism and discrimination have no place in Greenville County Schools.” The proposed adjustments will also eliminate explicit mentions of race, sex, gender, or disability, instead highlighting equitable education for all students, regardless of “any characteristic.” These changes came amid rising concerns over potential federal funding risks associated with DEI policies.
During the vote, five members were absent from the 12-member board, and Glenda Morrison-Fair cast the sole vote against the proposed changes. Her concerns centered around the absence of public complaints regarding the existing DEI policy, which was established in May 2021 in response to nationwide movements for racial equality following the murder of George Floyd.
The primary rationale for reviewing and revising the policy was articulated by Board member Jeff Cochran. He indicated that potential repercussions from federal funding authorities influenced the decision, citing a letter from the U.S. Department of Education that threatened to withdraw funds from schools maintaining DEI policies. The letter claimed that such policies discriminated against white and Asian students and accused the policies of promoting systemic racism among students.
The revision of the DEI policy comes in the wake of the South Carolina House of Representatives passing the “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act” in April. This act seeks to prohibit state entities from advocating DEI initiatives, further pressuring school boards like Greenville’s to reconsider their policies.
Despite the board’s support for the proposed changes, Morrison-Fair expressed the need for the policy board not to be swayed by scrutiny from state or federal officials. This divide reflects ongoing debates over the importance and efficacy of DEI programs within the school district.
Moreover, under the new policy, the term “culturally responsive” teaching will be substituted with “individually responsive” teaching techniques, marking a strategic shift in educational approaches within the district. Current mechanisms for accountability, including an evaluation rubric and an improvement plan associated with the DEI policy, will also be discarded.
As it stands, only 13% of public school faculty in Greenville County identify as persons of color. This statistic highlights the ongoing challenge of mirroring the diversity of the student population, which is comprised of approximately 48% White, 23% Hispanic, and 22% Black students. The difference between the demographics of faculty and students raises questions about the district’s ability to support a diverse learning environment under the revised policy.
In summary, the Greenville County School Board’s recent vote marks a significant turning point in its approach to educational equity and inclusion. With the need for a second vote looming and strong opinions on both sides, the ultimate direction of the district’s policy on fair treatment and opportunity remains to be seen.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Greenville School Board Votes to Rename DEI Policy
School Board Removes DEI Language from Policy
Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: School Board Votes on DEI Policy
- Fox Carolina: Greenville Schools DEI Policy Revision
- Spectrum News: New Policy in Greenville Schools
- Post and Courier: Greenville Schools DEI Policy Changes
- WYFF4: School District and Federal Grant Issues
- Wikipedia: Equity
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools DEI Policy
- Google Scholar: Greenville County Schools Equity
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: Greenville County Schools
