InDepthNH.org

The US District Court Wednesday extended its temporary restraining order blocking the state from enforcing its prohibition on “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs in public schools, colleges and universities or their contractors until Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m.

The Department of Education gave public school districts until Sept. 5 to file compliance reports certifying if they engaged in DEI related activities, used state money for those activities and if they have contracts containing DEI related provisions they would lose all state funding. The new law passed this year as part of the state budget, sets a deadline of Sept. 30 for school districts to file reports, while a letter from the Department of Education to school districts sets the Sept. 5 deadline.

The plaintiffs argued the new law contradicts federal civil rights laws protecting the rights of students with disabilities, violates the First Amendment rights of educators and students, and is unlawfully vague and ambiguous under the United States and New Hampshire constitutions.