A staggering $1 billion in taxpayer money has been funneled into divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in our schools, potentially at the expense of our children’s education.
At a Glance
- Biden administration allocated over $1 billion to DEI grants in education since 2021
- Funds distributed to public schools, universities, and nonprofits for DEI initiatives
- Critics argue DEI spending diverts resources from addressing core educational challenges
- Nearly one-third of K-12 students were below grade level by the end of 2023-24 school year
- Incoming administration signals potential shift away from DEI focus in education
Biden’s Billion-Dollar DEI Push in Education
The Biden administration has launched a massive initiative to reshape American education, directing over $1 billion towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grants since 2021. This staggering sum, revealed by watchdog group Parents Defending Education (PDE), has been distributed to public school districts, universities, and nonprofit organizations across the country.
Thank goodness this is all coming to an end soon.
PDE’s investigation uncovered 162 DEI-focused grants totaling $1,002,522,304.81. These grants were categorized into three main areas: DEI Hiring ($489,883,797.81), DEI Programming ($343,337,286), and DEI-Based Mental Health/Social Emotional Learning (SEL) ($169,301,221). One example of these grants includes a $3,973,175 award to the School District of Philadelphia for a restorative justice program.
Concerns Over Educational Priorities
While proponents argue that these DEI initiatives are necessary for creating inclusive learning environments, critics contend that this massive spending spree is diverting crucial resources away from addressing fundamental educational challenges. The timing of this DEI push is particularly concerning, given that nearly one-third of K-12 students were performing below grade level by the end of the 2023-24 school year.
“The only people or groups to benefit from the enormous amount of grant funding are the universities, administrators, and DEI consultants, at the expense of children’s education,” PDE researcher Rhyen Staley told Fox News. “This needs to change by placing children’s learning at the forefront of education, instead of prioritizing race-based policies and DEI.”
It’s crucial to note that the reported figures may only scratch the surface of the true extent of DEI spending in education. PDE’s report acknowledges that their findings are based on available data and are likely conservative estimates. The actual impact on districts and students could be far more extensive.
“These numbers are based on available data and not exact,” PDE stated in its findings. “The number of districts and students impacted is likely much higher.”
If Trump turns this around, let’s hope a future Democrat administration doesn’t reverse it out of pure spite – because this isn’t what the American people want.
