{"id":334,"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=334"},"modified":"2026-01-30T13:27:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:27:42","slug":"uncertainty-roils-schools-as-trump-targets-k-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/uncertainty-roils-schools-as-trump-targets-k-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Uncertainty roils schools as Trump targets K\u201112"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Brid\u00adget Brons\u00addon
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It start\u00aded almost right away. With\u00adin nine days of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s return to office, he set his sights on edu\u00adca\u00adtion.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, there was an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order tar\u00adget\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal funds for schools said to \u201cindoc\u00adtri\u00adnate\u201d stu\u00addents with \u201cgen\u00adder ide\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy.\u201d The order threat\u00adened blue states like Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut that have cur\u00adricu\u00adlums includ\u00ading instruc\u00adtion on gen\u00adder iden\u00adti\u00adty and diver\u00adsi\u00adty, equi\u00adty and inclu\u00adsion.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, the fed\u00ader\u00adal Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion was dec\u00adi\u00admat\u00aded, with near\u00adly half its employ\u00adees fired in March 2025. This  includ\u00aded all employ\u00adees of the Office of Civ\u00adil Rights, charged with inves\u00adti\u00adgat\u00ading dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion and pro\u00adtect\u00ading civ\u00adil rights in schools. How\u00adev\u00ader, sev\u00ader\u00adal employ\u00adees were asked to return to work in Decem\u00adber as the office faced a large back\u00adload of cas\u00ades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the 2025\u20132026 school year approached, the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion announced it would with\u00adhold bil\u00adlions of dol\u00adlars in fed\u00ader\u00adal aid to schools \u2014 includ\u00ading more than $50 mil\u00adlion for Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut \u2014 lead\u00ading to pro\u00adgram can\u00adcel\u00adla\u00adtions and lay\u00adoffs across the state and the coun\u00adtry. Though much of that fund\u00ading was ulti\u00admate\u00adly restored, uncer\u00adtain\u00adty remains.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEdu\u00adca\u00adtors are doing every\u00adthing we can to meet stu\u00addents where they are, but we can\u2019t do it alone,\u201d Erin Daly, pres\u00adi\u00addent of the Nation\u00adal Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Asso\u00adci\u00ada\u00adtion Dan\u00adbury chap\u00adter, said in an email. \u201cWe need sta\u00adble fund\u00ading, respect for our pro\u00adfes\u00adsion, and poli\u00adcies that put kids \u2014 not pol\u00adi\u00adtics \u2014 first.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut and the nation, pub\u00adlic schools are fac\u00ading unprece\u00addent\u00aded ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal incur\u00adsion from the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment as the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion uses fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading to tar\u00adget DEI and sex\u00adu\u00adal edu\u00adca\u00adtion pro\u00adgrams and pro\u00admotes a par\u00adti\u00adsan plan for\u201cpatriotic\u201d edu\u00adca\u00adtion. As con\u00adcerns also grow about immi\u00adgra\u00adtion raids in schools,  edu\u00adca\u00adtors say they are fac\u00ading uncer\u00adtain\u00adty and even fear in K\u201112 class\u00adrooms.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fed\u00ader\u00adal freeze sends \u2018shock\u00adwaves\u2019 <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1965, the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment has allo\u00adcat\u00aded funds to pub\u00adlic schools across the coun\u00adtry to sup\u00adport aca\u00add\u00ade\u00adm\u00adic enrich\u00adment pro\u00adgrams such as spe\u00adcial edu\u00adca\u00adtion and sup\u00adport for stu\u00addents liv\u00ading in pover\u00adty. But this year was dif\u00adfer\u00adent. Just two months before the start of the school year, the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion alert\u00aded states that it would with\u00adhold near\u00adly $7 bil\u00adlion in fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading, jeop\u00adar\u00addiz\u00ading about $53.6 mil\u00adlion for Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut schools. The funds dis\u00adpro\u00adpor\u00adtion\u00adate\u00adly impact\u00aded high-needs dis\u00adtricts and stu\u00addents, sup\u00adport\u00ading a vari\u00adety of pro\u00adgrams includ\u00ading migrant edu\u00adca\u00adtion, Eng\u00adlish learn\u00ading, before\u2013 and after-school pro\u00adgrams, adult lit\u00ader\u00ada\u00adcy and teach\u00aders\u2019 pro\u00adfes\u00adsion\u00adal devel\u00adop\u00adment pro\u00adgrams.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut was one of 25 states that sued the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion in July over the fund\u00ading freeze, and soon after, 150 Democ\u00adrats in the U.S. House, includ\u00ading four rep\u00adre\u00adsen\u00adta\u00adtives from Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, signed a let\u00adter<\/a> request\u00ading the release of \u201cille\u00adgal\u00adly\u201d with\u00adheld funds. Though the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion released the funds on July 30, there were still con\u00adse\u00adquences for schools.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese funds should nev\u00ader have been frozen in the first place,\u201d Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong in a press release<\/a> fol\u00adlow\u00ading the release of the funds. \u201cWhile stu\u00addents and teach\u00aders pre\u00advailed today, this rever\u00adsal does not undo all the long-term chaos, uncer\u00adtain\u00adty and dam\u00adage the Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has inflict\u00aded on our schools and com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adties.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many edu\u00adca\u00adtors across the state agree, say\u00ading insta\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty and a sense of untrust\u00adwor\u00adthi\u00adness from the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment per\u00adsist.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest impact that [the freeze] had was the uncer\u00adtain\u00adty,\u201d said Michael Mor\u00adton, deputy exec\u00adu\u00adtive direc\u00adtor for com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adca\u00adtions and oper\u00ada\u00adtions for the School and State Finance Project. \u201cThere was a peri\u00adod of time, cer\u00adtain\u00adly, where dis\u00adtricts were scram\u00adbling to fig\u00adure out what to do, and then in a lot of cas\u00ades that meant they were going to have to cut pro\u00adgrams or cut staff because they could\u00adn\u2019t afford to pay them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of clar\u00adi\u00adty about fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading not only made it dif\u00adfi\u00adcult to bud\u00adget and plan for pro\u00adgrams and ser\u00advices for stu\u00addents and fam\u00adi\u00adlies, but it also cre\u00adat\u00aded a sense of unre\u00adli\u00ada\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty between the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment and dis\u00adtricts across the state, Mor\u00adton said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Bridget Bronsdon<\/p>\n\" data-image-caption data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-1024x768.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
School bus\u00ades out\u00adside Sedg\u00adwick Mid\u00addle School in West Hart\u00adford, Conn. Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut sued Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump in July 2025 over the edu\u00adca\u00adtion fund\u00ading freeze. Pho\u00adto by Brid\u00adget Brons\u00addon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Daly said the fund\u00ading freeze sent \u201cshock\u00adwaves\u201d through\u00adout the state and left a harm\u00adful impact on the stu\u00addents and fam\u00adi\u00adlies in Dan\u00adbury, affect\u00ading pro\u00adgrams that sup\u00adport spe\u00adcial edu\u00adca\u00adtion, Eng\u00adlish learn\u00ading pro\u00adgrams, men\u00adtal health resources and nutri\u00adtion ser\u00advices.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen those funds are halt\u00aded, even tem\u00adporar\u00adi\u00adly, it dis\u00adrupts crit\u00adi\u00adcal sup\u00adports that many of our stu\u00addents rely on every sin\u00adgle day. It also cre\u00adates uncer\u00adtain\u00adty for fam\u00adi\u00adlies and edu\u00adca\u00adtors who are already stretched thin try\u00ading to meet grow\u00ading needs with lim\u00adit\u00aded resources,\u201d she said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freez\u00ading funds that direct\u00adly affect chil\u00addren sends \u201cthe mes\u00adsage that pol\u00adi\u00adtics is being placed ahead of stu\u00addents,\u201d Daly said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEdu\u00adca\u00adtors have always worked in good faith to serve every child who walks through our doors, but when that com\u00admit\u00adment isn\u2019t matched by con\u00adsis\u00adtent fed\u00ader\u00adal part\u00adner\u00adship and sup\u00adport, it becomes hard\u00ader to believe that we\u2019re all work\u00ading toward the same goal,\u201d Daly said. \u201cAt its core, this isn\u2019t about pol\u00adi\u00adtics \u2014 it\u2019s about keep\u00ading our promise to stu\u00addents. Our schools need sta\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty and invest\u00adment, not uncer\u00adtain\u00adty.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEI labeled as \u2018indoc\u00adtri\u00adna\u00adtion\u2019 <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Trump took office in Jan\u00adu\u00adary 2025, fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading has been lever\u00adaged to achieve ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal goals that seek to dis\u00adman\u00adtle DEI pro\u00adgrams and push a con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive view of sex\u00adu\u00adal\u00adi\u00adty.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jan\u00adu\u00adary exec\u00adu\u00adtive order<\/a> was aimed at elim\u00adi\u00adnat\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal funds for schools that \u201cindoc\u00adtri\u00adnate\u201d stu\u00addents based on the \u201cpro\u00admo\u00adtion of gen\u00adder ide\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy\u201d and \u201canti-Amer\u00adi\u00adcan ide\u00adolo\u00adgies.\u201d The order accused schools of push\u00ading trans\u00adgen\u00adder lifestyles and steer\u00ading stu\u00addents toward \u201csur\u00adgi\u00adcal and chem\u00adi\u00adcal muti\u00adla\u00adtion with\u00adout parental con\u00adsent or involve\u00adment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Feb\u00adru\u00adary, the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion said DEI pro\u00adgrams could be con\u00adsid\u00adered dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adtion and schools could face fed\u00ader\u00adal inves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEdu\u00adca\u00adtion\u00adal insti\u00adtu\u00adtions have tox\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly indoc\u00adtri\u00adnat\u00aded stu\u00addents with the false premise that the Unit\u00aded States is built upon \u2018sys\u00adtemic and struc\u00adtur\u00adal racism\u2019 and advanced dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adto\u00adry poli\u00adcies and prac\u00adtices,\u201d the Feb. 14 memo<\/a> from the Office for Civ\u00adil Rights stat\u00aded. It said \u201cfalse\u201d teach\u00adings of racism and oth\u00ader dis\u00adcrim\u00adi\u00adna\u00adto\u00adry prac\u00adtices are dis\u00adguised under the premise of DEI, \u201csmug\u00adgling racial stereo\u00adtypes and explic\u00adit race-con\u00adscious\u00adness into every\u00adday train\u00ading, pro\u00adgram\u00adming, and dis\u00adci\u00adpline.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an April memo, the fed\u00ader\u00adal Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion asked state edu\u00adca\u00adtion agen\u00adcies to con\u00adfirm they were not using \u201cille\u00adgal DEI prac\u00adtices\u201d and warn\u00ading those that did were at risk of los\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal dol\u00adlars.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, there has been lit\u00adtle clar\u00adi\u00adty from the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion about what pro\u00adgrams they would con\u00adsid\u00ader ille\u00adgal.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea that schools are \u2018indoc\u00adtri\u00adnat\u00ading\u2019 stu\u00addents is sim\u00adply not true,\u201d Daly said. \u201cOur teach\u00aders are teach\u00ading kids how to think, not what to think. DEI work is about ensur\u00ading every stu\u00addent feels seen, val\u00adued, and sup\u00adport\u00aded \u2014 not push\u00ading any polit\u00adi\u00adcal agen\u00adda.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an April 15 let\u00adter<\/a> to the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion, the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut State Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion ver\u00adi\u00adfied that the state \u201calready does and will con\u00adtin\u00adue to com\u00adply with the Title VI of the Civ\u00adil Rights Act of 1964.\u201d In doing so, it also ques\u00adtioned the legal\u00adi\u00adty of the Trump administration\u2019s threats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe CSDE is unaware of any fed\u00ader\u00adal or state statutes pro\u00adhibit\u00ading diver\u00adsi\u00adty, equi\u00adty and inclu\u00adsion,\u201d the agency wrote.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threats to sex\u00adu\u00adal edu\u00adca\u00adtion pro\u00adgrams <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has also tar\u00adget\u00aded repro\u00adduc\u00adtive and sex\u00adu\u00adal edu\u00adca\u00adtion pro\u00adgrams for teens, seek\u00ading to shape ide\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy around trans\u00adgen\u00adder issues. In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, Tong and 16 oth\u00ader state attor\u00adneys gen\u00ader\u00adal sued the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Health and Human Ser\u00advices to pre\u00advent the admin\u00adis\u00adtrat\u00ading from pulling fund\u00ading for pro\u00adgrams unless \u201cgen\u00adder iden\u00adti\u00adty lan\u00adguage\u201d was removed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2010, Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut has received about $1.6 mil\u00adlion annu\u00adal\u00adly for the fed\u00ader\u00adal Per\u00adson\u00adal Respon\u00adsi\u00adbil\u00adi\u00adty Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Pro\u00adgram, from the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Health and Human Ser\u00advices. The pro\u00adgram is respon\u00adsi\u00adble for pro\u00advid\u00ading med\u00adical\u00adly accu\u00adrate edu\u00adca\u00adtion for youth across the coun\u00adtry to com\u00adbat the spread of sex\u00adu\u00adal\u00adly trans\u00admit\u00adted dis\u00adeases and teen preg\u00adnan\u00adcy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tong said that for the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, \u201cmed\u00adical\u00adly accu\u00adrate\u201d means MAGA-approved.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCen\u00adsor\u00adship and polit\u00adi\u00adcal pro\u00adpa\u00adgan\u00adda will not pro\u00adtect teens from unplanned preg\u00adnan\u00adcy or pre\u00adventable dis\u00adease,\u201d he said in a press release<\/a>. \u201cTeens deserve accu\u00adrate, hon\u00adest infor\u00adma\u00adtion to stay safe, and we\u2019re suing to make sure they get it.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conn. attorney general William Tong speaks to a University of Connecticut class. By Connor Sharp<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-1024x682.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-PUBLICSERVANTS-TONG-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong speaks to a Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut jour\u00adnal\u00adism class. Tong said that cen\u00adsor\u00adship will not pro\u00adtect teens from unplanned preg\u00adnan\u00adcy. Pho\u00adto by Con\u00adnor Sharp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The PREP pro\u00adgram is not run\u00adning this year because the pro\u00adgram con\u00adtracts expired  in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2024 that have not been renewed by Con\u00adgress, but the attor\u00adney gen\u00ader\u00adal\u2019s office said it has aid\u00aded an \u201cannu\u00adal aver\u00adage of 800\u201312,00 at-risk youth in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion push\u00ades \u2018patri\u00adot\u00adic\u2019 edu\u00adca\u00adtion  <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of threats to fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading and the push to change DEI pro\u00adgrams, there have also been attempts by the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment to influ\u00adence school cur\u00adricu\u00adlum to pro\u00admote a par\u00adti\u00adsan view of his\u00adto\u00adry and civics.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, the U.S. Depart\u00adment of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion col\u00adlab\u00ado\u00adrat\u00aded with over 40 con\u00adser\u00adv\u00ada\u00adtive orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions to cre\u00adate the Amer\u00adi\u00adca 250 Civics Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Coali\u00adtion intend\u00aded to \u201creignite the fires of patri\u00ado\u00adtism, strength\u00aden civic lit\u00ader\u00ada\u00adcy, and inspire Amer\u00adi\u00adcans of all ages to under\u00adstand and cher\u00adish our found\u00ading prin\u00adci\u00adples,\u201d accord\u00ading to its web\u00adsite<\/a>. The coali\u00adtion is also plan\u00adning a cel\u00ade\u00adbra\u00adtion for the 250th anniver\u00adsary of the U.S. in July 2026.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coali\u00adtion, which includes high\u00adly par\u00adti\u00adsan orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions such as Turn\u00ading Point USA, the Her\u00aditage Foun\u00adda\u00adtion and the Amer\u00adi\u00adca First Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Insti\u00adtute, is an attempt by the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion to com\u00adbat what the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has called left\u00adist indoc\u00adtri\u00adna\u00adtion in the way the his\u00adto\u00adry of race is taught in schools.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the pro\u00adgram\u00adming and logis\u00adtics of the coali\u00adtion are still unclear, the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment is pro\u00adhib\u00adit\u00aded by law from pur\u00adsu\u00ading \u201cany direc\u00adtion, super\u00advi\u00adsion, or con\u00adtrol\u201d over \u201ccur\u00adricu\u00adlum or pro\u00adgram instruc\u00adtion\u201d<\/a> in schools, accord\u00ading to fed\u00ader\u00adal law.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Amer\u00adi\u00adca 250 Civics Edu\u00adca\u00adtion Coali\u00adtion fur\u00adthers efforts made in Trump\u2019s first term to pur\u00adsue what the pres\u00adi\u00addent calls \u201cpatri\u00adot\u00adic edu\u00adca\u00adtion.<\/a>\u201d In 2020, Trump cre\u00adat\u00aded the 1776 Com\u00admis\u00adsion, an ini\u00adtia\u00adtive born in response to the New York Times\u2019 1619 Project, which re-exam\u00adined Amer\u00adi\u00adcan his\u00adto\u00adry around slav\u00adery and its con\u00adse\u00adquences.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe left has warped, dis\u00adtort\u00aded, and defiled the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan sto\u00adry with decep\u00adtions, false\u00adhoods, and lies,\u201d Trump said in a 2020 White House Con\u00adfer\u00adence on Amer\u00adi\u00adcan His\u00adto\u00adry<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrit\u00adi\u00adcal race the\u00ado\u00adry, the 1619 Project, and the cru\u00adsade against Amer\u00adi\u00adcan his\u00adto\u00adry is tox\u00adic pro\u00adpa\u00adgan\u00adda, ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal poi\u00adson that, if not removed, will dis\u00adsolve the civic bonds that tie us togeth\u00ader,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will destroy our coun\u00adtry.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new civics coali\u00adtion, spear\u00adhead\u00aded by the Amer\u00adi\u00adcan First Pol\u00adi\u00adcy Insti\u00adtute and U.S. Sec\u00adre\u00adtary of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion and Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut native Lin\u00adda McMa\u00adhon<\/a>, will be releas\u00ading a \u201crobust pro\u00adgram\u00adming agen\u00adda\u201d in 2026 that will include \u201c50-state speak\u00ading tour on col\u00adlege cam\u00adpus\u00ades nation\u00adwide,\u201d accord\u00ading to a press release.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn\u00ading Point USA, pre\u00advi\u00adous\u00adly led by Char\u00adlie Kirk who was assas\u00adsi\u00adnat\u00aded in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2025, is known for its con\u00adfronta\u00adtion\u00adal col\u00adlege tours and is slat\u00aded to lead the pro\u00adgram.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hutz H. Hertzberg, chief edu\u00adca\u00adtion offi\u00adcer of Turn\u00ading Point Education\/USA, said the group \u201cis more resolved than ever to advance God-cen\u00adtered, vir\u00adtu\u00adous edu\u00adca\u00adtion for stu\u00addents flour\u00adish\u00ading across our nation.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has said its actions are nec\u00ades\u00adsary to stop schools from teach\u00ading \u201canti-Amer\u00adi\u00adcan, sub\u00adver\u00adsive, harm\u00adful, and false ide\u00adolo\u00adgies.\u201d Trump has even said that teach\u00ading crit\u00adi\u00adcal race the\u00ado\u00adry \u201cis a form of child abuse.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some edu\u00adca\u00adtors, on the oth\u00ader hand, said they think the Trump administration\u2019s plan is part of an author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan attempt to exert con\u00adtrol over the pub\u00adlic edu\u00adca\u00adtion sys\u00adtem for polit\u00adi\u00adcal gain.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edu\u00adca\u00adtion is \u201cvery easy for peo\u00adple to exploit,\u201d Mor\u00adton said. It is an \u201ceasy access point for any\u00adbody who wants to pur\u00adsue an ide\u00ado\u00adlog\u00adi\u00adcal agen\u00adda.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immi\u00adgra\u00adtion fear is pal\u00adpa\u00adble<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fear of immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment with\u00adin schools has also impact\u00aded the aca\u00add\u00ade\u00adm\u00adic envi\u00adron\u00adment, espe\u00adcial\u00adly after the detain\u00adment of two high school stu\u00addents in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June, a Meri\u00adden teenag\u00ader was detained by ICE just days before grad\u00adu\u00adat\u00ading from Mal\u00adoney High School. A few weeks lat\u00ader in July, a New Haven high school stu\u00addent was detained while work\u00ading at his job at a car wash in Southing\u00adton. Both teenagers have since been released, but as a result, edu\u00adca\u00adtors say the fear is real and raw.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there were not any reports in 2025 of ICE offi\u00adcials on school prop\u00ader\u00adty in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, state offi\u00adcials released guid\u00adance<\/a> to K\u201112 pub\u00adlic schools in late Jan\u00adu\u00adary 2025 regard\u00ading immi\u00adgra\u00adtion activ\u00adi\u00adties, includ\u00ading pro\u00adto\u00adcols should offi\u00adcials show up on school prop\u00ader\u00adty. While each district\u2019s pro\u00adce\u00addures are dif\u00adfer\u00adent, sug\u00adgest\u00aded pro\u00adto\u00adcols include request\u00ading immi\u00adgra\u00adtion agent iden\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion and review\u00ading any war\u00adrant pro\u00adduced by the agents.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guid\u00adance about pro\u00adto\u00adcols fol\u00adlowed a key change that expand\u00aded where ICE could detain immi\u00adgrants. Mere hours into his pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy, Trump reversed for\u00admer Pres\u00adi\u00addent Joe Biden\u2019s immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment guide\u00adlines that pre\u00advent\u00aded arrests at places deemed to be \u201csen\u00adsi\u00adtive loca\u00adtions,<\/a>\u201d such as schools, hos\u00adpi\u00adtals, places of wor\u00adship, shel\u00adters, health\u00adcare facil\u00adi\u00adties, protests and ral\u00adlies.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edu\u00adca\u00adtors said this had caused fear of raids in class\u00adrooms.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fear is real. It is real for my fam\u00adi\u00adlies. It is real for my stu\u00addents,\u201d New Haven Pub\u00adlic Schools Super\u00adin\u00adten\u00addent Made\u00adline Negron said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negron said her dis\u00adtrict is very clear about their core val\u00adues and the belief that every child deserves access to pub\u00adlic edu\u00adca\u00adtion. \u201cThat is not going to change,\u201d she said.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dis\u00adtrict is com\u00admit\u00adted to ensur\u00ading stu\u00addents, fam\u00adi\u00adlies and school offi\u00adcials under\u00adstand dis\u00adtrict pro\u00adto\u00adcols regard\u00ading immi\u00adgra\u00adtion, includ\u00ading train\u00ading for school secu\u00adri\u00adty guards, school clerks and teach\u00aders. In a Jan. 28 let\u00adter to her dis\u00adtrict, Negron said all ICE and non-local law enforce\u00adment offi\u00adcers are required to have a prop\u00ader war\u00adrant or sub\u00adpoe\u00adna to access school facil\u00adi\u00adties, stu\u00addents and records. If the offi\u00adcers fail to pro\u00adduce the prop\u00ader doc\u00adu\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion, they will not be allowed in the schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t ask ques\u00adtions,\u201d she said. \u201cWe just serve every kid that comes through our door.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alyssa Dunn, the direc\u00adtor of teacher edu\u00adca\u00adtion at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut School of Edu\u00adca\u00adtion, said some of the administration\u2019s actions, includ\u00ading cuts to spe\u00adcial edu\u00adca\u00adtion fund\u00ading and threats of immi\u00adgra\u00adtion enforce\u00adment in schools, are under\u00admin\u00ading the fun\u00adda\u00admen\u00adtal prin\u00adci\u00adples of pub\u00adlic edu\u00adca\u00adtion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the\u00ado\u00adry, pub\u00adlic schools are meant to pre\u00adpare stu\u00addents to be pro\u00adduc\u00adtive cit\u00adi\u00adzens in our democ\u00adra\u00adcy,\u201d she said. \u201cThat means that you should be able to attend school, no mat\u00adter what your abil\u00adi\u00adty is, no mat\u00adter what your address is, your zip code, your cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship sta\u00adtus. But late\u00adly, poli\u00adcies are seek\u00ading to alter or hin\u00adder stu\u00addents\u2019 par\u00adtic\u00adi\u00adpa\u00adtion in free pub\u00adlic edu\u00adca\u00adtion.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It start\u00aded almost right away. With\u00adin nine days of Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s return to office, he set his sights on edu\u00adca\u00adtion. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1003,"featured_media":540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[65,49,62,34,63,50,53,54,64],"class_list":["post-334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-america-250-civics-education-coalition","tag-dei","tag-federal-funding","tag-immigration","tag-k-12-public-schools","tag-patriotic-education","tag-public-education","tag-schools","tag-turning-point-usa"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-SCHOOLS-West-hartford-busses.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1925,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/k-12-funding-conditions\/","url_meta":{"origin":334,"position":0},"title":"K\u201112 Funding Conditions","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Conditions on Funding for Schools Preceding Event: On April 3, 2025, the Department of Education\u00a0notified states and localities\u00a0that in order to continue receiving federal funding, they must comply with new policies from President Donald Trump's administration. 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Woman.\u00a0 These are some of the words\u00a0or phrases\u00a0deleted\u00a0from federal agencies\u2019\u00a0websites\u00a0and\u00a0targeted by\u00a0grant\u00a0cuts\u00a0in the past year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0just one\u00a0part of a sweeping campaign by President Donald Trump\u2019s administration to remove \u201cDEI rhetoric\u201d from public\u00a0life.\u00a0 In\u00a0the first year of his second term, Trump has used threats to federal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Communities"","block_context":{"text":"Communities","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/communities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1848,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/dismantling-education-department\/","url_meta":{"origin":334,"position":2},"title":"Dismantling Education Department","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: AG Tong Sues to Stop Dismantling of Department of Education and to Protect Students Preceding Event: On March 11, 2025, the Department of Education (ED) put out a\u00a0press release\u00a0regarding a cut in the Department's workforce initiating a reduction in force \"as part of the Department of Education's final\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "lawsuits"","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":731,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/two-education-secretaries-from-ct-show-divide-over-schools\/","url_meta":{"origin":334,"position":3},"title":"Two education secretaries from CT show divide over schools","author":"Bridget Bronsdon","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two Connecticut residents, two secretaries of education, two very different paths.","rel":"","context":"In "Education"","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-Secretaries.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":654,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/trump-administration-takes-on-higher-ed\/","url_meta":{"origin":334,"position":4},"title":"How federal grant cuts and funding freezes threaten higher education","author":"Sara Bedigian","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sara BedigianUConn Journalism Fairfield Way on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus. 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