Update on U.S. Department of Education Title VI Compliance Certification

4/29/2025

This message is a follow-up to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s (DEW) update from Friday, April 25, 2025. Yesterday evening, the U.S. ED Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent the following message to State Education Agencies (SEAs):

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia enjoined the U.S. Department of Education from implementing and enforcing its April 3, 2025, Title VI Certification Letter. A copy of that Court Order is attached here. As a result, the Department will take no further action concerning the Title VI Certification Letter unless and until further notice is provided.

Please be advised that the Court Order does not preclude the U.S. Department of Education from initiating any enforcement actions that it may otherwise pursue under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and its implementing regulations.

As of yesterday afternoon, DEW received certifications from almost all Ohio’s LEAs. Given the fact that DEW received additional signed certifications from LEAs after the April 24 deadline, DEW sent these additional signed certifications together with an updated summary spreadsheet to U.S. ED OCR last night.

Here is a link to the updated summary spreadsheet.

For further guidance on compliance requirements and/or possible implications of pending litigation, please consult your legal counsel.

DEW will continue to provide updates as they become available. Should you have any questions, please contact Sarah Crock at Sarah.Crock@education.ohio.gov.