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Alabama officials seek to dismiss lawsuit challenging state DEI ban

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alabamareflector.com – Alander Rocha – 2025-03-26 15:01:00

by Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
March 26, 2025

Alabama officials have filed motions seeking to dismiss a lawsuit challenging SB 129, a law that limits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public universities and the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts.”

The Alabama Attorney General’s office and members of the University of Alabama (UA) Board of Trustees argue that the University of Alabama professors and University of Alabama Birmingham students suing to overturn the law lack standing and that their claims fail to establish any constitutional violations.

The plaintiffs, who also include the Alabama NAACP, allege that SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the First Amendment. Plaintiffs argue that the law discriminates against minority students and faculty by restricting funding for student groups and eliminating campus spaces designed to support minority students.

The attorney general’s office claims plaintiffs “fail to show how each and every provision of the Act harms them,” arguing that plaintiffs “fail to include sufficient allegations to ‘nudge their claim across the line from conceivable to plausible.’”

The Board of Trustees stated in a separate motion that the law does not prevent discussions on race but prohibits faculty from requiring students to adopt specific perspectives.

“As it relates to the classroom, SB 129 states that professors may not ‘direct or compel’ students ‘to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere’ to one of eight ‘divisive concepts’ defined in the statute,” the motion states.

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The law, which took effect last October, bars public universities from funding DEI programs and prevents discussions of concepts lawmakers deem divisive. It includes prohibitions against “compelling” students to believe that any race is inherently superior or that people are responsible for historical injustices committed by others of the same race.

UAB students, UA professors sue Alabama over state law banning DEI programs

Ahead of SB 129’s enforcement, universities across the state shuttered or rebranded DEI offices and closed dedicated campus spaces for its Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center.

Plaintiffs argued that the law’s impact disproportionately affects minority students by restricting funding for student organizations such as the University of Alabama NAACP chapter. Attorneys for the board argued that the plaintiffs’ allegations “do not involve any claim that Black students were treated differently from other students.”

“Plaintiffs instead rely on the precarious assumption that coursework related to diversity benefits Black students ‘in particular,’ because of their race,” the motion further states.

Professor Cassandra Simon, one of the plaintiffs, stated in the lawsuit that she fears discussing racial issues because students have previously expressed feelings of guilt or complicity after watching material on the Civil Rights Movement. Lawyers for the state argue that this does not constitute a First Amendment violation, even if Simon has already faced threats of termination for teaching a class on systemic inequality.

The motion stated that “even construing these allegations as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, Professor Simon’s fear is not objectively reasonable,” saying that simply showing material related to the Civil Rights Movement does not “direct or compel” students to accept the concept or “penalize or discriminate” when students aren’t in agreement. 

“Professor Simon does not have standing to challenge any provision of the Act based on such conduct. The same is true of the other Professors’ allegations regarding their subjective fears that teaching ‘about’ topics could violate the Act,” the motion states.

The defense also pushed back against claims that SB 129 is too vague, arguing that the law is clearly defined.

“Though Plaintiffs may not like its terms, the act is readily understood,” the motion states.

Plaintiffs have until April 18 to respond to the state’s motion.

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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

The post Alabama officials seek to dismiss lawsuit challenging state DEI ban appeared first on alabamareflector.com

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Op-Ed: Colleges shouldn’t need remedial algebra classes: Five K-8 policy solutions to address math proficiency | Maryland

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Principals say the oppose student immigration bill | Tennessee

www.thecentersquare.com – By Lindsey Henderson | ExcelinEd – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 11:36:00

Harvard University recently announced a remedial algebra course to address some of the mathematical struggles its incoming students are facing. 

 

This isn’t a reflection on the nation’s oldest and most renowned institution of higher learning. Remedial courses aren’t new. Plenty of colleges and universities offer courses geared toward helping students with precalculus and calculus. 

 

The fact that students at a highly competitive school like Harvard may need help getting caught up in a core subject should be a bright red warning light that our K-12 system is falling behind when it comes to math education.  

 

Looking at the most recent scores from the Nation’s Report Card, we know there has been minimal progress for students catching up from COVID learning loss, and most fourth and eighth graders on last year’s exam still performed below pre-pandemic levels, with a widening gap between disadvantaged students and their more resourced peers.  

 

To ensure future generations are prepared for postsecondary success, we need to look for upstream solutions—state-level math policy that we know will help students build the foundation they need.  

 

State leaders can act now on five essential math policies designed to transform math achievement. 

 
First, we know that countries consistently performing above average on international math assessments spend an average of 60 minutes per day on instructional time. In America, Alabama is the only state actively requiring this instruction length, with Maryland recently passing a similar policy that will be implemented in 2026. If every state required 60 minutes of math instruction a day, students would see stronger outcomes.  
 
Second, the adoption of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) would ensure students have access to grade level content. Surprisingly, this remains a significant challenge across the country, with some research indicating students spend more than 500 hours per school year on assignments not appropriate for their grade level and expectations. 

 

Next, we know that math coaches are an essential investment for all elementary and secondary schools and can be relied upon to lead professional development, facilitate lesson planning, teach model lessons and observe and provide immediate feedback. States like Alabama and Kentucky have implemented strong math coach programs.  

 

Just as we look to NAEP as a national assessment tool, teachers should be implementing regular assessments in their classrooms that provide valuable student progress information and inform future instruction tactics. When assessments are followed by timely interventions to get students back on track, student learning outcomes can dramatically improve. 

 

Finally, states should consider an automatic enrollment policy that ensures students who are mathematically proficient are promoted into higher-level courses in the next school year.  

 

Automatic enrollment policies have proven to lead to a larger number of students successfully taking higher level math courses, including a higher number of low-income and minority students.   

 

These policy essentials are not theoretical; we are seeing them in action in Alabama. Other states, including Indiana, Iowa and Maryland, are following suit.  

 

And that’s a smart move. Alabama’s comprehensive approach to math policy has resulted in remarkable progress in just two years: it remains one of the only states where fourth grade students are back to pre-pandemic levels of math proficiency on the Nation’s Report Card.  
 
By the time our students graduate from high school, they should be proficient in the math skills they need to succeed in higher education, the military or the workforce. We owe it to them to get them to that level in the K-12 system so they are not playing catch-up in subsequent years.  

 

States can help educators and schools achieve that goal by implementing proactive, research-backed policy solutions that ensure all students build a strong foundation in mathematics. 

 

Lindsey Henderson serves as the Math Policy Director at ExcelinEd.

The post Op-Ed: Colleges shouldn’t need remedial algebra classes: Five K-8 policy solutions to address math proficiency | Maryland appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

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Auburn says 15 international students, campus personnel had visas revoked

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alabamareflector.com – Anna Barrett – 2025-04-18 14:02:00

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
April 18, 2025

Fifteen Auburn University community members had their visas revoked this week, according to university officials.

Jennifer Wood Adams, executive director of public affairs at Auburn, said in a statement that the visas were revoked by the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Student and Exchange Visitor Program, not the university. 

She said the university immediately reached out to those with cancelled visas. The university did not identify the students. 

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“Auburn’s Office of International Programs immediately contacted each affected individual to provide assistance and support. Our international students and personnel are valued members of our campus community, and we recognize the significant impact that visa or status revocation will have on them,” the statement said. 

The statement also said the university will comply with all laws and cooperate with authorities. 

“This is a fluid situation, and the university will monitor it closely and assess its implications,” she said.

According to the Associated Press, at least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March. 

Alireza Doroudi, a University of Alabama graduate student from Iran, was detained in March by ICE. According to the Crimson White, UA’s student news outlet, Doroudi was denied bond on Thursday and now faces deportation.

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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

The post Auburn says 15 international students, campus personnel had visas revoked appeared first on alabamareflector.com

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Panoply 2025’s Musical Guests | April 18, 2025 | News 19 at 9 a.m.

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Panoply 2025's Musical Guests | April 18, 2025 | News 19 at 9 a.m.

www.youtube.com – WHNT News 19 – 2025-04-18 11:25:01

SUMMARY: Panoply 2025, set for April 25-27, will feature a diverse lineup of live music, including rock, R&B, smooth jazz, and local acts such as Alana White and The Red Flags. Headliner Billy Allen and The Polly’s will perform on Friday night. New this year are DJ sets between performances, generating excitement among attendees. The event will offer a range of activities, including food and entertainment. Tickets are $15 for a weekend pass, with parking and logistics advised for ease. The festival’s website and Huntsville social media will provide updates on weather and other event details.

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Panoply 2025 is a week from today! Patrice Johnson with Arts Huntsville swung by News 19 at 9am to tease this year’s musical guests!

News 19 is North Alabama’s News Leader! We are the CBS affiliate in North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley since November 28, 1963.

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