The US Department of Education has announced a drastic move, cutting more than $600 million in grants aimed at training teachers and education agencies on what it describes as divisive ideologies. The funding, which had been allocated to various institutions and nonprofits, supported programs focusing on topics such as Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism. This decision comes after a review of the grants revealed concerns over the ideological content and race-based recruitment practices embedded in the programs.
The department has faced growing criticism for its role in funding such initiatives, which it now deems as inappropriate and unnecessary for educator training. Many of the terminated programs included workshops and professional development on topics like dismantling racial bias and building cultural competence, practices that the department argues were misaligned with its educational priorities.
What the funding was used for
The $600 million in grants primarily funded teacher preparation programs that trained future educators on controversial issues. Many of these programs included workshops addressing systemic inequities, racism, gender-based discrimination, and homophobia. Some grants also funded culturally relevant teaching practices, focusing on sociopolitical understandings of race and promoting the dismantling of racial marginalization.
One specific example was a program offering professional development workshops on “Building Cultural Competence” and “Centering Equity in the Classroom.” Other materials included strategies for addressing systemic forms of oppression and providing spaces for educators to confront their biases through critical reflection.
Focus on ‘woke’ spending
This announcement comes just days after the Department of Education terminated over $350 million in grants and contracts to Regional Educational Laboratories and Equity Assistance Centers, calling it “woke” spending. These cuts were aimed at curbing wasteful and ideologically driven initiatives that, according to the Department, did not align with the best interests of students and taxpayers.
With these sweeping changes, the Department of Education is shifting its funding priorities, focusing on teacher preparation that adheres to its core educational values. This decision marks a significant break from the previous administration’s focus on equity-based training and seeks to reshape federal funding in the education sector.
