Two Education Related Executive Orders Issued

Today, President Trump issued two executive orders related to K-12 education.

The first order titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” would prohibit federal funding for schools that teach “gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom.”  The President would have a list of all the federal funding sources and streams, including grants and contracts, that directly or indirectly support or subsidize instruction of gender ideology and CRT which could include K-12 curriculum, instruction, programs and activities as well as in K-12 teacher education, certification, licensing, employment and training. If an LEA, ESA or other entity that receives federal funding is indirectly supporting or subsidizing the instruction, advancement or promotion of gender ideology and CRT then they could have funding rescinded. If a LEA or ESA or an individual school is found to have supported the social transition of a minor while deliberately concealing that transition from a minor’s parents the school would also be at risk of having federal funds rescinded and there could be legal charges brought against the teacher/school leader.

The second order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families” would direct the Education secretary to issue guidance regarding how States can use federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives as well as prioritize educational freedom in the awarding of competitive grants. The Department of Defense would be directed to submit a plan for how military families can use Defense Department funds to send children to schools that could fall outside of the agency’s own school system. The Department of Interior would be ordered to submit a plan on how families who rely on that agency’s Bureau of Indian Education schools can use federal funds to attend the school of their choice.