Gov, AG Issue Guidance on Equal Access to Education
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued updated joint guidance to support Massachusetts' higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders by President Trump and a U.S. Department of Education "Dear Colleague" letter dated Feb. 14, 2025.
Under the joint guidance, Massachusetts educational institutions should continue their work to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their student bodies. Longstanding legal precedent has established that educational institutions may take steps to build student bodies that are meaningfully diverse across numerous dimensions, like geography, socioeconomic status, race, and sexual orientation and gender identity, among others.
Healey and Campbell want to affirm that the federal government cannot change this longstanding legal precedent by executive order or a Dear Colleague letter. These efforts cannot erase the truth that educational access has not been free from the impact of historical and systemic racism.
"Attorney General Campbell and I are issuing this guidance to send a clear message that Massachusetts is going to stay true to who we are," said Healey. "We believe that bringing people of different backgrounds and perspectives to the table — including women, people of color and the LGBTQ-plus community — is a strength, especially in education. We are committed to working closely with our incredible schools, colleges and universities to support all of our students."
This joint guidance reaffirms that these recent federal actions do not prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in admissions and access to higher education or other educational settings. It also includes steps that K-12 schools can take to set their students up for success.
Schools and higher education institutions should continue to take affirmative steps, within the law, to create and maintain a positive school climate where all students feel safe, supported, respected and ready to learn. This includes reviewing current practices to ensure they comply with all applicable anti-discrimination, anti-bullying and civil rights laws.
"I'm proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll administration and Secretary [of Education Patrick] Tutwiler and in updating guidance to affirm that Massachusetts schools can continue efforts to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility," said Campbell. "Despite the Trump administration's continued attempts to create confusion and anxiety, the law has not changed, and schools must continue their work to make sure that every student, regardless of background, can access educational opportunities in the commonwealth."
Practices and programming that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility provide important educational and social benefits for students. They foster learning environments that provide all students an equal opportunity to learn and better prepare students to work in our diverse country and participate in our multiracial democracy. They are essential to promoting fair treatment and eliminating stigmatization.
In September 2024, the Attorney General's Office and Healey released joint guidance on affirmative steps school districts can take to create school environments that are safe and inclusive for all students and prevent hate and bias incidents from occurring. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also recently issued a special advisory on Supporting All Students, Including LGBTQ Students.
Tags: DEI, education plan, healey,
