President Trump signs Executive Order reinstating discipline in school classrooms

The Trump administration is working to change how schools discipline students and the federal government’s role in this process. On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order claiming that schools have been using discipline policies that are unfairly biased against students of color. This order aims to reverse previous guidelines supported by the Obama and Biden administrations, which were intended to reduce racial disparities in school discipline.

Here’s the breakdown:

Local Control vs. Federal Influence

Historically, school discipline decisions have been made at the local level, although federal law requires certain actions, like expelling students for bringing guns to school. School boards create their own rules, and teachers and principals enforce them.

However, over the past decade, federal guidelines have increasingly influenced local decisions. For instance, in 2014, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice issued guidance to help reduce racial disparities in school discipline. This Obama-era guidance suggested that higher rates of discipline for students of color might indicate discrimination. It showed how the Department of Education would interpret federal law and what might prompt federal investigations.

Following this guidance, many schools reduced suspensions and adopted new approaches like restorative practices, which focus on resolving issues through discussion instead of removing students from class. Some critics argued that these changes weakened discipline and even contributed to school shootings.

Although the guidance was removed during Trump’s first term, the federal government continued to investigate discipline disparities, and many schools maintained the practices suggested by the previous administration. Under President Biden, efforts to reduce disciplinary disparities continued but without reinstating the earlier guidance.

After the COVID-19 shutdowns, schools faced increased reports of student misbehavior. Nearly 90% of school principals reported negative effects of the pandemic on student behavior. At the same time, some schools were accused of failing to document serious misbehavior, creating a chance for the Trump administration to introduce new federal guidance.

What Trump’s Executive Order Does

Trump’s executive order aims to expand federal influence over school discipline policies. Here’s what it includes:

1. Shift in Focus: The order suggests that schools should no longer concentrate on differences in discipline rates among different student groups. It claims this focus has led schools to avoid reporting incidents and to make decisions based on students’ race rather than objective facts.

2. New Guidance Development: The order instructs the Secretary of Education to create new discipline guidelines for states and schools. It also asks that the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General collaborate with state leaders to help prevent racial discrimination in school discipline.

3. Reporting Requirements: The order requires a report on “discriminatory equity ideology” in school discipline, aiming to prevent its use. While it doesn’t define this term, it likely refers to approaches that consider race in discipline decisions. The report will suggest new policies that the order claims will uphold “American values and traditional virtues.”

The Meaning of 'Discrimination' in Today's Context

The executive order claims to protect against racial discrimination in school discipline, but interestingly, the policies Trump wants to reverse were also aimed at reducing racial disparities. This contradiction relates to current debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education.

The term “discriminatory equity ideology” used in the order highlights a shift in the conversation. It suggests that this executive order is part of a larger debate about the value and impact of DEI in public education.

 

Implications for Schools and Students

In the short term, educators may experience uncertainty. The executive order is vague and doesn’t specify which discipline policies should be avoided or adopted.

However, the order is likely to lead to increased federal influence over school discipline in the coming months. While the full impact is still unclear, it’s expected that there will be legal challenges and pushback in some areas, just like with other controversial education issues.

Overall, the “common sense” reforms proposed in the executive order may not be seen as sensible by everyone.