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Last week’s order said federal funds will be preserved,
but won’t go to programs with diversity, equity and inclusion or
gender ideology policies.
State Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, said in his opinion, the
move is unconstitutional.
“It is our hope and our desire that somebody with some sense in
D.C. will say, ‘no, let’s not do that. Let’s keep these things
together,’” Davis told The Center Square.
Trump’s order titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering
Parents, States and Communities,” says the administration shall
ensure the funding allocation complies with federal law and
administrative policy, “including the requirement that any
program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate
illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity,
equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting
gender ideology.”
Davis sees DEI programs differently.
“Programs like this are to help the bottom up so that they have
the same opportunity to live a quality life as everybody else,”
Davis said.
State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, said DEI policies are
failing Illinois students and should be done away with.
“The second you aren’t trapping poor kids in failing schools,
come at me with the DEI stuff. Alright? Until then, I don’t want
to hear it,” Wilhour told The Center Square.
Illinois should get rid of what woke policies destroying
education, Wilhour said.
Last week, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state could see
more than $3 billion in fewer federal tax funds under Trump’s
order.
“I think I want to give that money to parents,” Wilhour said.
“Parents are the best source of local control in education. They
know what’s best for their kids.”
Around 10% of the taxpayer funds Illinois uses for education
comes from the federal government. |
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