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Editorial: Policy to practice

The WSS Editorial Board wants the Iowa City Community School District to continue supporting diversity in district policies.
The Iowa City Community School District needs to support their schools across policies.
The Iowa City Community School District needs to support their schools across policies.
Kavya Bhatt

On April 13, 2021, the Iowa City Community School District voted to add Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr to the district calendar, designating time off from school to those who celebrate the holidays. This historic decision made the ICCSD the first of 327 Iowa districts to recognize both Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr. By establishing this district policy, the ICCSD fosters an inclusive environment where more students can observe their respective holidays without missing school. As the district approaches its calendar updating and designing period, the WSS urges the ICCSD to prioritize the importance of supporting students from every religious and cultural background.

While most Americans still think that focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion is important, these numbers are diminishing. The Pew Research Center reports that the percentage of Americans who believe focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at work is a “bad” thing increased from 16% to 21% across 2023-24, while the percentage believing such efforts are a “good” thing decreased from 56% to 52% during the same period. In Iowa, a predominantly conservative state, this unfavorable view of DEI is even more pronounced, as the percentage of self-identified Republicans who say DEI is an unnecessary focus has grown from 30% to 42% between 2023 and 2024. 

This movement against inclusion isn’t just theoretical. In April 2024, Iowa’s three main public universities — the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa — all closed their DEI programs. Iowa State University removed five positions in the program, and the University of Iowa fully switched its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office to a program for the Division of Access, Opportunity and Diversity. The University of Northern Iowa chose to eliminate its Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice Office and the Chief Diversity Officer position.

When Senate File 2435 goes into effect in July, it will completely ban public higher education institutions from having DEI programs. Iowa’s universities have already begun complying with the law by cutting and restructuring programs, such as the University of Iowa changing its “Office of Institutional Equity” to the “Office of Civil Rights Compliance.” While this law solely applies to higher education institutions, president-elect Donald Trump has stated that he is considering withholding federal funding from schools of all grade levels that include DEI in their curriculums. The ICCSD needs to maintain its diversity programs while preparing for the possibility of limits, or bans, on accepted methods of equality promotion.

These laws may not make a large difference for many schools, but West High and the ICCSD schools are some of the most diverse schools in Iowa. The ICCSD has welcomed more students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds over the past 10 years. For example, the number of students of color in the district increased from 20% to 46% from 2001 to 2021. In comparison, the average Iowa school’s increase was significantly less, from 10% to 27% over the same period. The district’s more diverse student population demands more consideration for cultural or religious practices. After all, the district’s policy that first included other religious holidays was inspired by a student-led petition with over 6,000 signatures. It’s clear that these simple diversity measures mean a lot to students who feel recognized by the district through actual policy decisions.

If the district’s mission is to support its diverse student population, it needs to continue equity movements despite possible restrictive state and federal policies. While the ICCSD can’t dictate state law, it can dictate local policies. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that the district prioritizes students feeling included.

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