On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at reinstating school discipline policies that prioritize objective behavior over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. The order provides new guidance for local and state educational agencies, requiring adherence to Title VI protections against racial discrimination and necessitating action against those that continue to implement racially preferential discipline practices. Additionally, it mandates a report to analyze the impact of DEI-based discipline and propose model policies aligned with American values.

The Executive Order addresses concerns regarding classroom safety and order, which the administration attributes to previous policies enacted during the Obama-Biden administration. These policies allegedly pressured schools to enforce discipline in a way intended to balance disciplinary rates across racial groups, which some argue led to inconsistencies in how students were disciplined based on their race. A 2018 Federal Commission on School Safety report highlighted issues where schools may have downplayed misconduct to avoid scrutiny regarding racial disparities in discipline data.

In this initiative, President Trump seeks to prioritize the interests of students, parents, and educators over the influence of teachers’ unions. The order includes measures to enhance educational freedom and proposes significant changes to federal involvement in education, including plans to close the Department of Education. This approach also prohibits federal funding for certain mandates and aims to ensure that educational policies reflect the needs and safety of American families.

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