International assessment reports such as PISA or TIMSS

U.S. Education Department Allocates Over $1B for DEI Initiatives, Including $489M for Hiring

Dec 12, 2024, 11:05 PM

The U.S. Department of Education has allocated over $1 billion since 2021 to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the country, according to a report by Parents Defending Education (PDE). This funding has been used for various programs including $489,883,797 for race-based hiring, $343,337,286 for DEI programming, and $169,301,221 for DEI-based mental health initiatives. The grants, which total 229 and span 42 states plus Washington D.C., have been distributed to 296 K-12 school districts, impacting approximately 6,766,158 students. Notable examples include a $21.5 million grant to Montgomery County Schools for professional training on equitable practices, a $15.5 million grant to Ypsilanti Community Schools for 'culturally responsive' teaching, and a $4 million grant for a summer camp aimed at underrepresented students in computing fields. The School District of Philadelphia received a nearly $4 million grant for a restorative justice program advised by Fania Davis, sister of Angela Davis, a former communist party member. Critics argue that this spending prioritizes ideological agendas over educational outcomes, especially given the underperformance of U.S. students in international assessments.