Policy changes expected in U.S. public education under the Trump administration are likely to involve universal school choice, critical race theory, transgender ideology, student college debt relief, and higher education accreditation. The fate of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is also uncertain, as dismantling it would require an act of Congress. President Trump nominated Linda McMahon to lead the DOE, stating his intention to return education authority to the states.
Established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, the DOE’s responsibilities include ensuring equal educational opportunities, providing additional funds to low-income schools, and administering federal grant and loan programs for higher education. While the federal agency cannot dictate curriculum or graduation requirements, recent tasks have included special education funding and civil rights investigations.
Jonathan Butcher of the Heritage Foundation Center for Education Policy believes that merging the DOE’s functions into other federal agencies could result in significant taxpayer savings. He argues that states and districts should have more authority over education decisions. Under the Trump administration, Butcher expects the DOE to cut administrative costs, focus on academic improvement, empower local administrators, and promote universal school choice.
Despite calls to abolish the DOE, representatives from the American Council on Education (ACE) caution against it, citing the department’s influence on education policy. The Trump administration has expressed intentions to address gender ideology and critical race theory in schools, with a focus on eliminating federal funding for schools promoting such ideologies. The nonprofit Parents Defending Education (PDE) has documented incidents of liberal ideology in schools and believes that parents are increasingly concerned about the erosion of parental trust in education systems. The Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education, responsible for investigating discrimination and harassment complaints, will now exert pressure on non-compliant schools, warning them of potential aid loss if corrective actions are not taken. This move is aimed at combating what some refer to as the “woke cancer” impacting education.
In the realm of education, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and transgender ideology have created a stark divide across the nation. While some deeply blue states celebrate events like Transgender Day of Visibility on their education department websites, red states like Arizona and Arkansas emphasize a zero-tolerance policy towards biases that undermine academic standards.
Arizona Education Commissioner Tom Horne applauded the new administration’s commitment to removing CRT and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from schools. This stands in stark contrast to the advocacy for school choice seen in places like Arizona and Arkansas, where efforts are underway to expand educational options beyond traditional public schooling.
At the national level, Senator Bill Cassidy plans to introduce legislation promoting educational choice through tax credits for private school voucher programs. This initiative, supported by former President Trump, aims to provide families with more options for their children’s education.
Despite the push for school choice, concerns remain about the state of higher education in the country. With potential changes on the horizon, including limitations on foreign student enrollment and opposition to diversity programs, the future of colleges and universities is uncertain.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) anticipates challenges to DEI programs in higher education, as well as potential threats to accreditation processes. However, the organization remains committed to upholding industry standards and defending the integrity of higher education.
As the debate over CRT and transgender ideology in schools continues, organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union vow to protect educational institutions that teach these concepts. The fight against censorship and challenges to educational curricula is expected to intensify in the coming years.
The fight is far from over,” a page on the Defending Our Right to Learn website declares.
According to Exner from PDE, parent groups like hers are well-acquainted with legal battles and are anticipating a series of lawsuits from the ACLU in the coming years.
Despite this, she mentioned that with the success of Republicans in the 2024 election, supporters of education reform and an unbiased education for all can be hopeful for imminent change.
“These are common sense 80/20 issues,” she stated. “While we anticipate more challenges and opposition, the majority of the public is on our side, making it an uphill battle for them.”
Janice Hisle contributed to this report.
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