Federalism in Action (FIA) welcomes the U.S. Department of Education’s clear repudiation of race-based school discipline. For years, our nation’s schools were pressured by the Obama and Biden Administrations to prioritize social justice over school safety and student achievement. Threats of lawsuits and lucrative taxpayer-funded grants for “race equity” consultants prompted thousands of school administrators to abandon tried-and-true discipline methods, and our children are paying the price.
When schools stop holding students accountable for insubordination, drug use, and assault, children and teachers are no longer safe.
FIA’s months-long investigation uncovered over 9,200 schools, spanning 41 states, that have continued to embrace Obama/Biden “alternative discipline” practices, despite damning evidence that assaults on students and teachers have increased, educational performance is declining, and teachers are resigning.
Yesterday’s Department of Education announcement is a necessary first step, but now it is up to state attorney’s general and lawmakers to investigate their schools’ discipline practices and, where necessary, hold administrators and school boards accountable. Children and teachers should not be afraid to go to school.
To learn more about this critical issue see our full report.
