Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Harnik
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Education, Social Media
Britt Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Education, Social Media
President Donald Trump has come under fire after the US government pulled millions of dollars of funding because of their stance on one thing.
Trump has been particularly vocal about this subject since taking office for the second time in January, and he’s even overhauled his entire workforce because of it.
From banning flags to ripping away workplace incentives, Trump has been on a roll with it... and now, he’s targeting schools that don’t comply.
That’s right, I’m talking about all things Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity, as well as transgender rights.
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The US Department of Education has pulled millions in funding for Chicago Public Schools' ‘Magnet Schools Assistance Program’, after the Trump Administration allegedly claimed the CPS did not abolish the Black Student Success Plan, nor did the district ban transgender students from using bathrooms or competing in sports that fit with their preferred genders.
CPS was expecting to get $8 million from the government, and now schools will be left grappling, per CPS officials who spoke to ABC7 Chicago.
The White House has been threatening to withhold federal dollars over the Success plan, with claims that it is discriminatory to others and violates the Civil Rights Act.
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This year, a complaint came through that alleged CPS was using the program to discriminate based on race.
"The investigation has not formally concluded yet, but the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to the school district last week, saying that they believe the plan is discriminatory against students of other races — invoking a key decision by the U.S. Supreme Court banning affirmative action in college admissions — and demanding that the district abolish the initiative completely," said Mila Koumpilova, a senior reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, as per CBS.
People online have had some strong thoughts regarding the withholding of funding, with many calling this a tool used to harm students.
One person on X said: “That’s less ‘education policy’ and more straight-up culture war with kids caught in the crossfire. Do you think schools should ever have to bend like that for funding?”
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Another wrote: “Trump cutting school funds like it’s a reality show elimination.. drama first, students second.”
Someone else slammed: “Ah yes, funding schools based on bathroom policies and sports participation surely that’s how you fix education.”
Some of the things the Black Student Success Plan is working on is to increase the number of Black male educators who work at schools, teach about Black history and culture, and also reduce disciplinary actions against Black students, such as expelling them.
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The federal government is also threatening to keep funding away from schools over CPS policies on transgender students.
Koumpilova shared that these CPS policies were the focus of an investigation by the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department of Education, including the Deerfield Public School District 109 and the Illinois State Board of Education.
"In the same letter from the Office for Civil Rights, it said that in its opinion, the district's guidelines — which allow transgender students to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities based on the gender with which they identify — are in violation of Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination based on sex," said Koumpilova.
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"And so again, the federal government, the Trump administration, is insisting that the district scrap these guidelines."
Koumpilova said that CPS also stated its policies for transgender students are required under state law.
This is the same situation as the Black Student Success Plan, which was being investigated by Parents Defending Education, a conservative group based in Virginia, for racial discrimination.
UNILAD has reached out to the White House for comment.