What Parents Need to Know About President Trump’s Executive Orders and Schools

Commentaries


Last Update: February 3, 2025

In his first two weeks of office, President Trump signed several executive orders aimed at reshaping federal policies, eliminating DEI initiatives, restoring biological reality and enforcing merit-based practices. These orders have significant implications for K-12 schools, higher education, and federal education grants. Below are three key areas every parent should know about these sweeping changes.

1. Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism

President Trump’s executive orders seek to restore “biological truth” in federal education policies. Within 30 days, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Secretary of Education are tasked with revising definitions of sex in federal policies and programs.

The aim is to remove references to genders beyond male and female from federal forms, grants, and initiatives. This should include reversing policies implemented under the previous administration, such as Title IX regulations that expand the definition of sex to include gender identity. This step is necessary to ensure clarity and fairness in educational environments, strengthen protections for women’s sports and all students’ privacy rights. A supermajority of parents agree, according to recent polling by Parents Defending Education.

2. Rescinding Previous Administration’s Executive Orders

A second executive order also rescinds several executive orders from the previous administration that focused on anti-merit, DEI policies. 

Federal agencies are instructed to eliminate references to DEI and related principles in grantmaking, contracting, and financial assistance procedures within 45 days. 

These changes will streamline processes, reduce costs, and affirm merit-based principles. Parents should pay close attention to how these rescissions impact local schools and communities and any pending Office for Civil Rights complaints filed by parents or students.

3. Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families

President Trump’s executive order prioritizes education choice by encouraging grant funding and policy recommendations that help families select the best schools for their children. 

Depending on what guidance is issued to states (within 60 days), what grant opportunities are identified (within 90 days) and what policies are recommended by the Department of Education, Department of Interior, and the Department of Defense, more funding will likely be available for school choice programs and scholarships, increasing access to private, charter, or alternative education options. 

Military families and Native American (BIE) students will likely see more options to attend the school of their choice.

4. Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism

With his executive order, President Trump reinforces previous efforts (EO 13899) to address anti-Semitism in education and government policies. Within 60 days agencies must review complaints related to anti-Semitism, especially in higher education, and suggest actions for non-citizen students or teachers involved in violations.

Schools and universities must ensure they are compliant with anti-discrimination policies through this executive order. Parents can expect schools to increase efforts to address anti-Semitism, including reviewing complaints and policies regarding discrimination.

5. Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling

President Trump aims to ensure federal education funds are used in compliance with laws that protect parental rights and prohibit certain types of curriculum. Within 90 days, a strategy will be submitted that aims to eliminate funding for schools that promote gender ideology or critical race theory-based teaching and protect parental rights through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Schools receiving federal funds must comply with this order or risk losing funding. The order reinstates the “1776 Commission,” which promotes a patriotic approach to U.S. history. Parents should see changes in curriculum, teacher training, and school policies that have previously been developed through the lens of critical race theory and gender ideology.

6. Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

President Trump’s executive orders also call for the Attorney General and Secretary of Education to, within 120 days, issue guidance ensuring that public schools and other state and local educational authorities comply with Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the Supreme Court ruling that declared race-based university admissions illegal. The guidance will require educational agencies receiving federal funding to align their policies to uphold merit-based standards. This includes school districts, charter schools, county offices of education, or any authority who manages public schools.

The elimination of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs is a central focus. Institutions receiving federal funding—including K-12 schools and universities—will be instructed to discontinue discriminatory DEI-related initiatives. This marks a shift toward enforcing civil rights laws to guarantee that all students have equal opportunities based on merit, free from racial or identity-based discrimination. 

On January 23, 2025, the Department of Education took its first actions “to eliminate harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.”

Parents concerned about discriminatory practices can expect these changes to promote fair and unbiased opportunities for their children in education.

Conclusion

These executive orders represent a dramatic shift in federal education policies, with far-reaching consequences for students, parents, and educators. These changes signal a restoration of merit-based and academically-focused schools, but the conversation and fight for ideologically free classrooms is far from over. Parents and members of the public should remain engaged and informed as schools and districts implement these federal mandates.