On Wednesday, President Trump signed a number of executive orders that addressed the nation’s educational system, ranging from university accreditation to K–12 discipline.
In the Oval Office, Trump signed an order to reverse policies from former Presidents Obama and Biden that, according to White House staff secretary Will Scharf, “created issues in the classroom for teachers and students alike” with regard to school discipline.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioral problems have increased, but it is unclear how much control the federal government will have over specific school policies regarding this matter.
“President Trump is raising school safety standards in a historic and sensible move. “Students’ behavior and actions should be the only basis for disciplinary decisions,” stated Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
To further incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into American classrooms, another Wednesday order was issued.
As AI becomes more and more significant, Scharf explained, “the basic idea of this executive order is to ensure that we properly train the workforce of the future by ensuring that school children, young Americans, are adequately trained in AI tools, so they can be competitive in the economy years from now into the future.”
Trump signed an executive order that targets the college accreditation process, which could have a negative impact on higher education.
According to Scharf, “many of those third-party accreditors have relied on sort of woke ideology to accredit universities, instead of accrediting based on merit and performance.” College accreditation guarantees a university’s ability to receive financial aid.
Since colleges in states that forbid diversity, equity, and inclusion have no trouble obtaining accreditation, accreditors have reacted negatively to these charges.
However, the consequences of a school losing its accreditation would be disastrous, and higher education institutions would probably become more concerned after realizing that Trump is not scared to jeopardize their finances.
This is particularly true for Harvard University, which lost $2 billion in federal funding after refusing to alter its policies in response to Trump’s demands. Due to the action, the Ivy League member has filed a lawsuit.
Another order aimed to draw attention to an existing law regarding disclosures of foreign gifts.
Laws currently in effect mandate that universities make specific disclosures when they accept sizable foreign gifts. We think that this law has not been properly enforced and that some universities, like Harvard, have consistently broken it,” Scharf stated.
In order to establish a White House initiative to assist HBCUs in “doing their job as effectively and as efficiently as possible,” another Trump order was signed.
In order for institutions to become centers of opportunity and economic engines for nearby businesses and employers, McMahon stated, “The Department will collaborate with the Initiative and HBCUs to broaden collaborations and exchange best practices.”
Last but not least, a workforce development executive order was signed with the goal of expanding the nation’s overall apprenticeship program.
“To better serve the needs of their workforce, the Trump administration will assist communities nationwide that are providing career-aligned programs like dual enrollment and apprenticeships,” McMahon stated.
