Fact Check: New York schools risk losing funding for refusing to drop Indigenous mascots.

Fact Check: New York Schools Risk Losing Funding for Refusing to Drop Indigenous Mascots

What We Know

In April 2023, the New York State Board of Regents adopted a regulation, known as Part 123, which prohibits public schools from using Indigenous names, logos, or mascots. This regulation mandates that schools must phase out these names by the end of the 2024-2025 school year, with an exemption for Native American tribes (source). The regulation was enacted following a growing movement across the United States to eliminate the use of Native American mascots in schools, which many view as disrespectful and harmful (source).

Schools that do not comply with this regulation may face consequences, including the potential loss of state funding. Specifically, the New York State Education Department has indicated that schools that fail to change their mascots and names could risk losing funding (source). However, the specifics of how funding would be affected are not entirely clear, as the state budget for 2023 did not allocate specific funds to assist schools in transitioning away from these mascots (source).

Analysis

The claim that New York schools risk losing funding for refusing to drop Indigenous mascots is partially true. The regulation indeed states that schools must eliminate Indigenous mascots or face potential funding consequences. However, the exact mechanisms for enforcing these consequences remain somewhat ambiguous. While the New York State Education Department has made it clear that non-compliance could lead to funding risks, the recent state budget did not include specific provisions for enforcing these penalties or providing financial assistance for schools undergoing the transition (source).

Moreover, the regulation allows schools to use existing materials and uniforms until September 1, 2026, which provides some leeway for schools to comply without immediate financial repercussions (source). This indicates that while there is a risk of losing funding, the timeline and enforcement of such penalties are not as immediate as the claim might suggest.

The sources cited, including official state documents and reputable news outlets, lend credibility to the understanding of the regulation and its implications. However, the lack of clarity in the enforcement mechanisms and the absence of specific funding penalties in the state budget suggest that the situation is still evolving and that the claim may oversimplify the complexities involved.

Conclusion

The claim that "New York schools risk losing funding for refusing to drop Indigenous mascots" is partially true. While there is a regulation in place that could lead to funding penalties for non-compliance, the specifics of how these penalties will be enforced are not fully established. Schools have a timeline to transition, and the absence of dedicated funding in the state budget complicates the enforcement of potential penalties.

Sources

1. PDF Background and Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Part 123 of the ...
2. NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4052
3. Mascot Guidance | New York State Education Department
4. New York State Issues Schools an Ultimatum: Lose Indigenous Mascots or ...
5. NY State Senate Bill 2023-S6439 - The New York State Senate
6. New York is the latest state to ban Native American school mascots - NPR
7. New York's ban on Native American mascots in schools ...
8. Budget won't have funding for school Indigenous mascot ban - Spectrum News