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Salem-Keizer superintendent warns federal "assurance" form could put $80 million at risk
Summary
Superintendent Castaneda told the school board that a U.S. Department of Education notice asking districts to sign an assurance about compliance with the Civil Rights Act has created fear and uncertainty; he urged state officials to act before an April 24 deadline.
Superintendent Castaneda told the Salem-Keizer School District 24J board on April 8 that a recent notice from the U.S. Department of Education asking districts to sign an assurance about compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has created a climate of uncertainty and fear among educators.
Castaneda said the notice asks districts to affirm compliance and refers to unspecified diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities that “may be considered illegal,” and that the lack of definition behind that phrase has raised the stakes because the notice ties noncompliance to the potential loss of federal funding. “The threat that sits behind that is a threat of loss of all federal funding,” Castaneda said, and he quantified the district’s federal funding at “around $80,000,000 a year.”
The superintendent said the district must await guidance and a decision from the Oregon Department of Education, the governor and the state attorney general before signing the form. He urged Oregon to take a common position so the responsibility does not fall to local boards. “I hope that Oregon finds in itself the courage to follow suit,” Castaneda said, adding that the district’s values and practices will remain unchanged regardless of the form.
Board members asked questions about next steps and about whether other states had already acted. Castaneda and other staff said roughly half a dozen states had signaled decisions and that those choices were both procedural and symbolic. He said the April 24 timeline for a decision is set by the state and that district staff have been consulting elected officials, community members and attorneys about the risks.
The board did not take action on the matter at the meeting; Castaneda framed the immediate need as state-level action and called for continued public conversation and clarity from state officials. He also reiterated the district’s stated commitment to serving all students and pursuing diversity and equity in programming while acknowledging the legal and funding uncertainty.
Public comment on this meeting included a written submission from Reverend Dr. R. Weldon Taylor, who attended and said he would file his prepared remarks later; in remarks he gave, Taylor urged the district to ensure students can “look to the front of the room and see myself,” saying representation in classrooms accelerates learning for students who have fallen behind.
District staff said they will continue to monitor state guidance and keep the board informed, but emphasized that the decision about signing the form rests with state authorities under the current timeline.
