What does it mean to not comply in advance?

The pace of world events has quickened since January 20, 2025. The second Trump administration has been a dizzying time for Americans—and those of us in education are no different. We are all struggling to understand what appears to be a set of ‘new rules’ for government services and schooling is one of the largest government services fundamental to grounding our democracy.

In my work running the Campaign for our Shared Future, I saw clearly how public education largely governed by local and state entities was shaped and influenced by national narratives and federal mandates. The relationship between our federal systems and state & local governments is an important civic lesson that has gone unlearned by many Americans. During a time of dramatic polarization, this is especially problematic—but as long as public schools remain a bedrock of the American experience, we cannot turn away from our responsibility to create informed and engaged citizens ready to participate in our democracy.

During the flurry of Executive Orders issued by the President, many in the education sector have worried about how to square their commitments to diversity or equity or justice with these ‘new rules.’ What should education entities do about proclamations of diversity and inclusion or commitments to anti-racism made in the George Floyd era has been a major concern among many colleagues. In my role as executive director of the Campaign, I gave a lot of advice about these types of decisions. We perfected a version of ‘change the words, not the work’ as a way of allowing folks to remove the targets from their backs and focus on serving young people in need. That made a lot of sense when the goal was to create more common ground and to focus on doing the work so desperately necessary coming out of a global pandemic that interrupted schooling for most US schoolchildren.  

We are in a different moment. And I have different advice for all of us. And let me say this—we all must make individual decisions that will eventually collate into a movement far bigger than K12 education. As I watch the moves to dismantle the so-called ‘administrative state’ and to demonize efforts to include ALL students, I know one thing for sure. We are the target. The success of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are exactly the enemy, and if we once believed them important in creating an American education system that realized the potential of all young people, we will not be able to stop the enemy once we change the words. Mainly because it is our actions of including all students and families, of ensuring students and families have the support and accommodations they need, of telling a warts and all history of the country that will continue to draw ire from extremists who seek to make educators the enemy. It has become clear that we cannot win with reasoned compromises when the current movement is set on destroying any inroads won and punishing all who helped to create learning environments where student needs are centered.

There has been a lot made of the saying ‘do not comply in advance’ when a regime is turning authoritative. I wonder if we truly understand the why and how of that move. To not comply in advance requires courage and conviction that you have made a sound judgement in the first place. This is the important foundation of how we must understand the current moment. If you believe in your values, you must hold them dear. A school district or non-profit that has pursued policies to ensure racial representation with fairness at the core must hold to this decision or acquiesce to fascism. Think about that.

I know many of you are contemplating how to ‘change the words’ on your websites, in your work descriptions, etc. And while I empathize, I cannot co-sign anymore. The time has come for courage. The time has come for truth. Use the superpower of the knowledge you have about what is best for young people and stand strong in your conviction.