Chinese government-backed programs active in several US public school districts, report finds

WASHINGTON (CITC) — The Chinese partnership program "Confucius Classrooms," which is active in several prominent U.S. high schools, is backed by the Chinese government, a report from Parents Defending Education found.

The report, released Wednesday, uncovers contracts showing that Confucius Classrooms exist to create connections between K-12 schools, universities or nonprofits and “a Chinese government entity.”

Confucius Institutes on American college campuses will often pay tens of thousands of dollars to establish Confucius Classrooms in public school systems, the report found. In some instances, districts will pay Confucius Institutes for instructors and other services.

Programs are currently active in 13 schools located in Minnesota, Kentucky, Oregon, Texas and Washington, three of which are recognized as the nation’s top science and technology high schools.

“Further research reveals the People’s Republic of China fostered relationships with American K-12 schools through grants, sister school partnerships, and other programming since at least 2009. Parents Defending Education tracked affiliations in 143 schools across 34 states and Washington, D.C.—and at least seven are still active,” PDE wrote.

As a result of their findings, PDE wants immediate government intervention to investigate the extent of China’s influence in American schools. PDE also wants Congress to investigate if American intellectual property has been stolen through these connections.

“The allure of Chinese language and culture programs have led American K-12 schools to forge ties with one of the United States’ biggest foreign adversaries,” PDE said. “While it’s important to provide students access to Chinese language and culture programs in schools, American schools should not give the Chinese Communist Party unfettered access to our students.”