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Palm Beach school board moves to revise DEI and purchasing policies after federal guidance
Summary
The Palm Beach County School Board voted to develop and repeal several diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)–related policies and to adopt a race‑neutral small business enterprise approach after legal and budget uncertainties from federal guidance and recent court actions, drawing sharp public criticism and calls to pause the changes.
The Palm Beach County School Board voted in workshop and special sessions to develop revisions and to repeal a set of longstanding DEI‑related policies, including rules on business contracting and majority‑to‑minority student transfers.
Board action followed legal guidance and concern about potential federal funding risk after a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” style directive and related executive orders were publicly invoked at early meetings. The district’s legal and administrative staff presented options that replace race‑ and gender‑conscious contracting language with a race‑neutral Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program and remove or amend policy text referencing “minority” or “women‑owned” set‑asides.
The board approved development or repeal of the affected policies in a series of roll call items (see actions). Most votes passed 5–1, with…
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