Diversity Symposium in NYC Private Schools Sparks Controversy

This week, some of New York City’s top private schools will participate in a “diversity symposium” organized by a nonprofit aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among young children. Critics are raising concerns, labeling these institutions as “indoctrination centers” and suggesting they push anti-Semitic and anti-Western ideologies.

The New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) intends for its Diversity Symposium 2026, which kicks off on April 9 at the Lycée Français de New York, to evaluate the current landscape of diversity and equity practices and explore future directions.

During his February State of the Union address, President Trump declared that his administration was effectively putting an end to DEI initiatives in America, a trend evident as many universities and companies have started to dismantle or halt similar programs.

At the upcoming symposium, however, attendees will engage in a workshop that aims to reframe DEI principles in the elite K-12 sector. The workshop, titled “Restoring a Sense of Belonging in the Classroom: Equity as a Universal Design for Teachers and Schools,” acknowledges that the term “equity” has become fraught with political implications, asserting a commitment to “reclaim equity work” through what they call Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Another workshop, entitled “The Belonging Lab: A Hands-On Design Studio for Story, Structure and Courageous Dialogue,” is designed to encourage educators to explore often overlooked African indigenous knowledge systems, emphasizing wisdom, governance, and education practices that resonate beyond traditional methods.

The symposium’s main presenter is Lisa Talusan, described in her biography as an educator and facilitator who works with various organizations to foster identity and leadership skills.

Detractors of NYSAIS view the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), its parent organization, as somewhat secretive, claiming it seeks to expand its curriculum with a concerning history of anti-Semitic and anti-Western sentiments.

They contend that the divisive DEI approaches embedded in the curricula of elite institutions such as Brearley, Spence, and Dalton essentially forge “indoctrination environments” that teach students to view life through a lens of oppression and victimhood.

This mindset, they believe, has followed students into college, contributing to a series of chaotic campus protests in the spring of 2024.

In response, the Trump administration has targeted discriminatory practices at prominent universities, threatening to revoke federal funding for violations.

In light of ongoing changes, significant shifts have taken place in schools like Columbia University, aimed at addressing anti-Semitism and discriminatory policies. Yet, according to Michelle Parker, a lawyer representing parents at independent private schools, DEI remains entrenched, with many of the 203 elite institutions making up NYSAIS actually accelerating such initiatives.

Parker expresses concern that while governmental entities are attempting to address the discriminatory traits of DEI in public and higher education, private schools appear less scrutinized. “We’ve witnessed the divisive nature of DEI since October 7th. These prestigious private institutions have largely evaded this accountability,” she pointed out.

She further argues that if DEI practices are deemed discriminatory in public education, they inherently retain that classification in private settings too. She insists that these elite schools should be held to the same standards as public institutions regarding federal tax exemption statuses.

Many parents, when confronted with the option of changing schools that don’t align with their values, express the emotional difficulty involved in uprooting their children. It’s often not just about the school but the friends and the familiar environment that children would have to leave behind, creating a complicated dilemma.

While some might successfully navigate the transition, leaving one child protected from potentially harmful content, it doesn’t necessarily change the broader issue at hand. It’s like a band-aid solution; one student moves on, while others might remain unaware of the underlying problems.

Parker has urged for a Congressional inquiry into discrimination in tax-exempt private K-12 schools and called for the State Attorney General’s action in enforcing existing laws related to independent private schools.

Neither NYSAIS nor Talusan responded to the newspaper’s request for comment.