S 1811119th CongressIn Committee

Embracing Anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula, and Advancing Truth in Education Act

Introduced: May 20, 2025

Civil Rights & JusticeEducation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The EDUCATE Act (Embracing Anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula, and Advancing Truth in Education Act) would amend the Higher Education Act to bar federal financial support for graduate medical schools unless they certify they do not adopt or enforce certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies or practices. Specifically, schools would must certify that they do not compel or require faculty, staff, or students to express DEI tenets, do not maintain DEI offices, and do not require or incentivize diversity statements as a condition of admission or employment. The bill also requires certification that the school will comply with civil rights laws and directs accrediting agencies to ensure they do not require DEI-related policies as a condition of accreditation. The act contains definitions, protections for First Amendment rights and religious missions, and severability provisions. In short, it aims to restrict DEI-related requirements and offices in graduate medical education in exchange for federal funding.

Key Points

1Not-for-funding unless certifications: Graduate medical schools must certify they do not direct, compel, or require individuals to express DEI tenets as a condition of benefits or status, and they may not maintain DEI offices or require diversity statements for admissions or employment.
2Civil rights compliance: Institutions must certify adherence to applicable civil rights laws (Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination Act, and related DOE regulations).
3Accreditation safeguards: Accrediting agencies must demonstrate they do not require institutions to adopt DEI policies as a condition of accreditation for graduate medical education.
4Definitions and scope: The bill defines what constitutes a diversity office and a diversity statement, and clarifies that certain instructional and data-collection activities are not prohibited. It focuses on graduate medical education within higher education institutions.
5Protections and exceptions: The act includes rules of construction that preserve (i) instruction on medical needs related to sex or other characteristics, (ii) demographic data collection for informational purposes, (iii) religious missions’ tenets, and (iv) First Amendment rights, academic instruction, research, student organizations, guest speakers, and compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Graduate medical schools and their students, residents, faculty, and staff at institutions of higher education that receive federal funds. This includes potential loss or conditionality of federal support for programs in medical education if they do not comply with the certification requirements.Secondary group/area affected- Medical school administration and human resources (admissions, hiring, training), as well as any DEI offices or programs within medical schools.- Accrediting agencies that oversee graduate medical education, which would need to adjust standards to ensure they do not condition accreditation on DEI policies.- Federal departments (e.g., Department of Education) and federally funded loan programs that interact with graduate medical schools.Additional impacts- Potential changes in how diversity-related training, climate initiatives, or equity-focused data collection are implemented in grad medical education.- Possible legal and constitutional considerations regarding academic freedom, speech, and anti-discrimination requirements, with carve-outs for First Amendment rights and religious missions.- Institutions currently relying on DEI offices or diversity statements as part of admissions or employment processes may face funding eligibility changes, prompting strategic shifts in their governance and curriculum design.The bill explicitly preserves certain activities (e.g., instruction about medical needs related to sex, race, etc.; demographic data collection for informational purposes) and provides protections for religiously affiliated institutions and First Amendment rights.The act uses strong language stating “Notwithstanding any other provision of law” for funding limitations, which signals a robust funding prerequisite tied to the certifications.

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