On Wednesday, President Trump signed a series of executive orders (EOs) that impact education. Below is a summary of key orders:

Reinstating Commonsense, Non-Discriminatory School Discipline Policies aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations from school discipline policies and rescinds federal guidance issued in 2023 by the Biden Administration. The order requires the Secretary of Education, in partnership with other agencies, to develop new federal guidance to state and local educational agencies. It authorizes action against institutions that engage in racially related disciplinary practices. To ensure compliance, districts must also submit a comprehensive report to the President that analyzes the effects of DEI-influenced discipline policies, assessing the use of federal funds in support of such practices—including those administered through nonprofits— and demonstrating “ that federal funds do not support racially preferential policies, including through nonprofit organizations, and proposing model discipline policies rooted in American values.”

Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy declares it is US policy “to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible.” It starts the rollback of some regulations including Department of Justice Title VI regulations (signed into law in 1966) which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in employment practices of recipients of federal financial assistance and deprioritizes the enforcement of others. Within 45 days, the Attorney General and Chair of the Equality Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must assess all pending investigations, civil suits, or positions taken in ongoing matters under every Federal civil rights law within their jurisdictions, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that “rely on a theory of disparate-impact liability, and …shall take appropriate action.” Within 45 days all other federal agencies are required to evaluate existing consent judgments and permanent injunctions that “rely on theories of disparate-impact liability and take appropriate action.” 

Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth directs the creation of “new education and workforce development opportunities for America’s youth, fostering interest and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) technology from an early age to maintain America’s global dominance in this technological revolution for future generations.” The EO will establish the White House Task Force on AI, chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and include Administration officials. The task force will oversee a new Presidential AI Challenge to recognize student and educator achievements, expand AI adoption nationwide, and promote collaboration across sectors to solve national issues using AI. It will also create public-private partnerships to support K-12 AI education and integrate AI tools in classrooms. Additionally, the Secretary of Education is directed to prioritize the use of AI in discretionary grants for teacher training and the Director of the National Science Foundation to prioritize research on the use of AI in education.

Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to review and modernize federal workforce programs to meet the needs of emerging industries. They must deliver a streamlined plan to the President that re-aligns these programs to support reshoring, re-industrialization, and the AI revolution, aiming to strengthen America’s global economic leadership. The EO has an emphasis on expanding the number of people who participate in apprenticeship programs, aiming to reach and surpass one million Registered Apprenticeships