Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed three executive orders aimed at reshaping the landscape of K-12 education in the United States. These orders direct federal agencies to end what they describe as "indoctrination" in schools, investigate campus protests, and implement a federal school choice voucher initiative. Specifically, the orders seek to withdraw federal funding from schools that affirm transgender students' gender identity, restrict the teaching of American history concerning race and slavery, and instruct the Department of Education to prioritize school choice in grant programs.
In response to these developments, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) issued a statement criticizing the executive actions. Mark Weber, NJPP's Special Analyst for Education Policy, described these measures as "a gross overreach of federal power" and contrary to New Jersey's educational values. He emphasized that while the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee children access to publicly-funded education, the New Jersey Constitution does.
Weber highlighted New Jersey's progress in providing quality education to all students irrespective of their backgrounds. He argued that the executive orders could undermine protections for LGBTQ+ students, censor important historical discussions on race and history, and divert resources away from public schools.
According to Weber, New Jersey aims to uphold every child's dignity regardless of gender and ensure truthful teaching about both state and national history. The state's commitment includes protecting constitutional rights such as free speech and peaceful assembly within its educational institutions.
He further noted that unlike private schools, public school districts in New Jersey are expected to offer adequate education without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion or immigration status. Public schools play a crucial role in society and policies weakening them would exacerbate inequalities.
Weber acknowledged ongoing challenges within New Jersey's education system but rejected what he termed as Trump's agenda of transphobia and school privatization. He called upon state leaders and communities to oppose these executive orders and support an inclusive educational policy focused on truth, respect, and academic excellence.
