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STATE OF PLAY: The Department of Education letter last week instructed educational institutions from preschool to college to eliminate any DEI policies within 14 days. * Schools are
instructed to review their policies, cease efforts to circumvent bans of race considerations or its proxies, and end contracts with third parties that consider race. * Some Philly
universities are taking action to comply with the request, while others are playing wait-and-see. ZOOM IN: The University of Pennsylvania has already scrubbed and modified several of its
schools' websites dealing with DEI language — or removed them altogether. * University leadership has also amended a policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, including nixing
references to affirmative action, per the Daily Pennsylvanian. * Penn's medical school is expected to axe committees dealing with DEI and programs that help diversify its student body,
per the Inquirer. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: University officials are reviewing programs for compliance with federal law but not revising the school's values, Penn spokesperson Ron Ozio
tells Axios. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY is reviewing its policies and practices to ensure they "align with all legal requirements while staying true to our mission and values," per a
statement from school president John Fry. DREXEL UNIVERSITY has yet to make any changes as it monitors the situation, per the Inquirer. * Drexel didn't return Axios' request for
comment. MEANWHILE, the School District of Philadelphia is currently "reviewing the information and analyzing any potential impact and implications for the district," spokesperson
Christina Clark tells Axios. BETWEEN THE LINES: Many DEI programs, which sprang up in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter protests, typically promote inclusiveness, ensure diversity in hiring
and work to fight systemic racism. * The latest crackdown on DEI programs accelerates the ongoing pullback of such initiatives at universities and businesses in recent years. WHAT WE'RE
WATCHING: The Education Department's interpretation of the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling could also challenge content taught in classes, along with functions of
student organizations. WHAT'S NEXT: The department will "take appropriate measures to assess compliance" with the administration's interpretation of the law by the end of
the month. * However, the department's order is likely to be challenged in court.