Hope School District Superintendent Responds to Federal DEI Ban: ‘We Will Not Comply’
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Educators across the country are feeling the effects of a recent U.S. Department of Education announcement to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices—including schools in the Santa Barbara region.
On Feb. 14, 2025, the department sent a letter to all public education agencies, including K-12 schools and colleges, demanding they end DEI policies within two weeks or risk losing federal funding. The directive has left many educators alarmed, including those at Hope Elementary School.
"Creating fear in our educational world, and our schools are going to react," said Hope Elementary School teacher Tim Barker.
Hope School District Superintendent Anne Hubbard said she was astounded by the directive.
"It’s completely counterintuitive to what students need and what serves students best … so to receive that from the federal Department of Education was quite a shock," Hubbard said.
Without hesitation, Hubbard responded with a bold message to her staff. In a letter, she stated the district "will not comply and will continue to practice and prioritize equity and inclusion."
"The message to everyone was business as usual … we’re going to continue to make sure that we have welcoming and inclusive campuses," Hubbard added.
Barker reaffirmed his commitment to his students.
"I have morals … I have ethics … and I’m going to continue to lift my kids up," he said.
The California Department of Education responded with a letter on Feb. 21, reassuring districts that a “Dear Colleague” letter is not law.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education defended its directive in January stating that "these actions are in line with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government. They are the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools."
For Hubbard, the primary concern remains the impact this directive could have on students.
"We have gay students. We have Black students. We have Hispanic students. We have white students. We have Asian students. We have every type of student ... The idea that I would not purposely try to connect those students to their school and their education is insane. Of course, I’m going to do that," she said.
While the full impact of the directive remains unclear, educators at the Hope School District say their dedication to their students will not waver.
"We want to help everybody attain their dreams," Barker said.
