Florida Cuts Funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in State Colleges, Substitutes ‘Woke’ Sociology Course with U.S. History

Last Updated on March 17, 2024 12:06 PM CDT

The Florida Board of Education recently implemented new regulations that it says will restrict the use of public funds for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs within Florida College System institutions, according to a press statement.

In the press statement, the board has also “for the first time” decided on how to define DEI, promising the rule change “affirmatively prohibits FCS institutions from using state or federal funds to administer programs that categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment.”

Per the board, taxpayer funds may no longer be used to “promote DEI” at any of the 28 FCS colleges, which include Valencia College, Seminole State College of Florida, Polk State College, Palm Beach State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College and College of Central Florida.

Such funds may also not be used for programs or campus activities that promote or engage in “political or social activism,” defined in the rule as “any activity organized with a purpose of effecting or preventing change to a government policy, action, or function, or any activity intended to achieve a desired result related to social issues, where the institution endorses or promotes a position in communications, advertisements, programs, or campus activities.”

Civil rights advocate and attorney Ben Crump immediately denounced the move. “We continue to go down a misguided path of censorship in Florida!” he wrote on X.

In May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to create related restrictions in higher education. The bills barred state colleges and universities from using public funds to promote activism or advocacy for DEI efforts. The legislation also dictates the ways race, gender can be taught in classrooms, while emphasizing the study of Western civilization.

The Florida State Board of Education has implemented new “strict regulations” to prohibit the use of public funds for DEI programs, activities, and policies at 28 state college campuses. We continue to go down a misguided path of censorship in Florida! https://t.co/kZnxrKxlDO

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) January 17, 2024