Findings are likely an ‘underestimate’: report
School districts across the country spent more than $19 million in federal tax dollars on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “restorative justice” programs for K-12 students over the past few years, according to a new report.
In one case, an Illinois school district spent $55,000 for “professional development rooted in Critical Race Theory,” the Defending Education investigation found. The grassroots organization works to end activism and indoctrination in public education institutions.
“Over the last few years, 57 school districts have spent more than $19 million in federal funding to contract with organizations and consultants for far-left programming,” according to the investigation.
These include DEI, “equitable grading practices, race and sex-based programming, restorative practices/restorative justice,” and “other far-left ideologies,” Defending Education reported.
The organization noted the $19 million likely is an “underestimate,” and the report will be updated as more information is uncovered.
The tax dollars used for the DEI programs were supposed to help low-income students, according to The Daily Wire:
The funds, many of which have been allocated through Title I and Title II of the Every Student Succeeds Act, are meant to help schools with high percentages of students from low-income families.
Despite the intention of the funds, they often have gone toward things like racially-focused programs, training teachers to grade with equity, racial equity consulting, and other DEI initiatives.
Other examples in the report include Elk Grove Unified School District in California spending $4 million “to facilitate programming for ‘young men of color’” and Indianapolis Public Schools using $680,000 to hire a “racial equity consultant.”
Additionally, Howard County Public School System in Maryland spent more than $250,000 on DEI programs, including “equity professional development.”
“Instead of prioritizing reading, writing and arithmetic, school districts across the country have spent nearly $20 million in federal funds on organizations and consultants promoting progressive ideology in K-12 education,” Defending Education investigative reporter Kendall Tietz told The Daily Wire.
Tietz said the new report also shows that “far-Left” education programming is a “lucrative” service.
The Trump administration has been working to end DEI in K-12 and higher education. An executive order from the president in April prohibits schools from considering a student’s race when taking disciplinary action, The College Fix reported.
In the order, President Donald Trump criticized the “restorative justice” practices — promoted by the Obama administration — that are widely used in schools today. A 2019 study found such practices are not as effective as proponents claim, The Fix reported at the time.
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