The list includes the requirements for foreign donation disclosure at universities and the end of “restorative justice” practices in public schools.
On April 23, President Donald Trump announced additional education reform measures that he said would promote transparency and meritocracy around Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. We support technology and innovation. Improve your learning environment.
During a signing ceremony and press conference in his office, he was adjacent to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and disabled military veterans.
The first executive order, “Transparency on Foreign Impacts at American Universities,” requires higher education institutions to disclose the country of origin and other information of donors. The president did not disclose compliance rules.
Trump accused his predecessor, President Joe Biden of focusing billions of dollars on US universities, stealing taxpayer-funded intellectual property and using American schools to hold foreign publicity.
The second executive order, signed on April 23, called for the DEI to be terminated in the university’s accreditation.
In a statement issued after the ceremony, the Ministry of Education said it would work to include new accreditation bodies in the process, urging existing accreditors to focus on reducing university costs, promoting innovation and providing quality education.
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Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, university majors must be accredited to obtain federal funding for research, student Pell grants, and other functions. The institutions that evaluate and issue accreditations for university and university programs are independent, non-profit organizations, but are accredited by the US government.
“The existing accreditation monopoly will raise costs, contribute to the increasing tuition and fees that American families face, support legacy four-year institutions, block new accreditations from the market, interfere with state board decisions, and push the university in ideological direction.”
“The outcome will monitor the burdens by immeasurable accreditors rather than bureaucracy, reduced innovation, vast DEI administrative facilities, and state education leaders, and appropriately appoint board members.”
In an email response to the Epoch Times, Chairman of the Accreditation Council for Higher Education, Cynthia Jackson Hammond said Trump’s actions undermine a long-standing system of ensuring the quality of university and university research programs.
“The institutions are able to meet their mission and consistently incorporate innovation to provide students with the best possible experience,” Jackson Hammond said.
“If there is a lack of outcomes, the accreditor works with the institution to establish a benchmark for the outcome. The relationship between the institution and the accredited organization is one of trust and responsible actions. This relationship should not be respected.
The third order reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to supporting historically black universities.
The fourth order called for a strong federal commitment to supporting artificial intelligence as a learning tool for public education.
“That’s a big deal,” Trump said. “Today, we’re investing trillions of dollars in AI.”
The fifth order challenges learning institutions and employers to create a million new apprentices to boost the US workforce.
“We’re going to remake that American dream,” Ratnick said.
The final order calls for an end to the “restorative justice” policy in public schools. A restorative justice approach focusing on diversity ideology encourages alternatives to traditional methods of discipline, such as suspension and expulsion.
Annette Albright, a former teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, was attending the signing ceremony and praised the measure and thanked Trump for regaining control of the classroom. She found that school shootings and other violent incidents in her district that occurred after school had failed to constantly discipline the troublemakers.
“Public schools must be in a safe environment,” she said.
