Trump Signs Executive Orders on Education Focusing on Critical Race Theory and School Choice
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders addressing education. The first order aims to eliminate federal funding for K-12 schools that teach critical race theory (CRT), while the second promotes school choice.
The order on CRT, titled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," states, "Parents have witnessed schools indoctrinate their children in radical, anti-American ideologies while deliberately blocking parental oversight." It further suggests that such an environment creates an echo chamber, forcing students to accept ideologies without question or critical examination. Children may feel pressured to identify as either victims or oppressors based on immutable characteristics like skin color.
The executive order asserts that any K-12 school failing to comply will lose all federal funding, invoking Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs.
Trump's second executive order on school choice, "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families," references a report showing that 70 percent of 8th graders are below proficiency in reading and 72 percent in math. The order argues that the current public education system is failing a significant portion of society, detrimental to national competitiveness and community wellbeing.
The order also instructs the Secretary of Education to provide guidance within 60 days on how states can utilize Federal funds to enhance K-12 educational choice initiatives. Additionally, it commands the Secretaries of Labor and Education to propose plans within 90 days for using grant programs to promote educational choice.
Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project, expressed that these actions are pivotal for parents' control over their children's education. In contrast, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, criticized the school choice order, arguing it diminishes meaningful choices and undermines classroom resources.
