State Education Secretary Zoie Saunders told the Trump administration Monday that Vermont’s schools will continue diversity, equity and inclusion programs and reaffirmed the state’s compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.

“In Vermont, diversity, equity and inclusion practices are supportive of all students, and aim to create and sustain positive, welcoming learning environments,” Saunders wrote in the Monday letter to the U.S. Department of Education.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump’s administration wrote to states requesting they certify their compliance with Title VI, a federal civil rights law outlawing racial discrimination. But the feds’ request also referenced “illegal DEI” and seemed to restrict a variety of practices, arguing that school districts have “veil(ed) discriminatory policies” under initiatives like diversity programming, “social-emotional learning” and “culturally responsive” teaching. 

Initially, Saunders requested each superintendent submit compliance certifications. The Vermont Agency of Education argued the federal directive only required districts to affirm their compliance with existing law, something they’re already required to do. 

But that decision angered the associations representing school leaders, who told Saunders and Attorney General Charity Clark that Vermont’s approach to the federal directive was “not workable.”

Initially, Saunders doubled down on the request to districts. But later the same day, the state walked back its position, instead informing superintendents that the Agency of Education would submit a single certification to the federal government. 

Monday’s letter from Saunders was Vermont’s single certification, and in it, she told the U.S. Department of Education that the state and districts were in compliance with federal law. 

But Saunders also used the missive to signal opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict or ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 

“Vermont is proud of its efforts to foster positive, welcoming learning environments for all its students,” Saunders wrote. “And because of — not despite — those efforts, Vermont can confidently certify — as it has in the past — that it complies with current Title VI statutory, regulatory, and decisional law.”

The letter also offered a legal perspective on the federal request, noting that no law “prohibits diversity, equity, or inclusion” and that the certification did not force compliance with “Executive Orders, memoranda, or guidance materials or the undefined language regarding ‘certain DEI practices’ or ‘illegal DEI’ in the Request for Certification.”

Other states have resisted the Trump administration’s diversity, equity and inclusion-related demands. According to Education Week, 11 states have said they will not sign certifications.