Five years after the COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures reshaped perceptions of public education in the United States, many parents are expressing relief at the potential for a renewed focus on parental rights under President-elect Donald Trump. The lockdowns provided a unique glimpse into the inner workings of their children’s schools, revealing a shift in educational priorities toward lessons on race, gender, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This shift occurred as test scores were declining and students faced significant challenges. With far-left ideologies gaining traction and academic performance languishing, parents are hopeful that the incoming Trump administration will prioritize core educational subjects and empower parents in their children’s education.
Cristine Trooien, a mother of three, emphasized the importance of decision-making by those closest to the issue. She believes that parents and local school boards, rather than federal bureaucrats, should have a more significant role in shaping education. Trooien expressed her hope that the federal government would take a step back, allowing local parents to become more involved.
A recent poll conducted by Parents Defending Education (PDE), an organization opposing the perceived encroachment of far-left ideologies in schools, found that 90% of surveyed parents believe schools would improve by focusing on core subjects like math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Additionally, 52% of parents support reducing the Department of Education’s influence, with 77% advocating for more state flexibility in managing school districts.
Erika Sanzi, director of outreach at PDE, highlighted the poll’s findings, noting the overwhelming opposition to school policies that withhold information from parents about their child’s gender identity. Sanzi criticized the trend of facilitating gender transitions without parental knowledge, calling it “complete madness” and urging for transparency and parental involvement.
The poll also revealed that less than half of parents believe the Department of Education is effectively using its resources to advance student education nationwide. This sentiment reflects a growing desire for change in educational policies and priorities.
Part of the president-elect’s education agenda includes increased parental involvement and the removal of critical race theory (CRT), gender ideology, and DEI initiatives from school curriculums. Trump has pledged to focus schools on reading, writing, and math to equip young Americans with the skills needed for successful careers.
Trooien, like many parents, became more aware of her children’s education during the pandemic. The lockdowns provided an opportunity to observe decision-making by local leaders, revealing a lack of parental involvement in curriculum choices and other policies.
Living near Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the time of George Floyd’s death and subsequent protests, Trooien noticed a swift shift in school policies aimed at addressing racial disparity and equity. She observed that resources were allocated to equity initiatives, often at the expense of core academic subjects, resulting in declining test scores.
Lori Gimelshteyn, a mother of two from Colorado, also noticed a shift in focus at her children’s school. As the school expanded services like healthcare, academic priorities seemed to wane. She expressed concern that ideological agendas were being prioritized over educational achievements, as reflected in plummeting test scores during the pandemic.
The pandemic, coupled with policies catering to teachers’ unions, resulted in prolonged school closures, significantly impacting students’ learning. Five years later, academic performance remains stagnant, with some indicators showing worsening scores since the lockdowns.
Parents like Gimelshteyn are eager for schools to return to their primary mission: educating children. In Colorado, for example, over half of the students are not at grade level in reading, yet graduation rates have reached record highs. The disparity between academic proficiency and graduation rates highlights the need for educational reform.
A study by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that the gap between pre-COVID results for sixth graders in math and English grew significantly, with eighth graders requiring additional months of schooling to reach pre-pandemic levels.
While Trump advocated for reopening schools early, President Joe Biden’s policies allowed for extended lockdowns, delaying a return to in-person instruction until late 2021. Parents have expressed frustration with the administration’s handling of school closures and the integration of controversial ideologies into the curriculum.
Gimelshteyn recounted an incident where her son was assigned a project questioning the racism of his favorite hobby. She encouraged her son to remain truthful, even if it meant receiving a poor grade. Her attempts to address the issue with teachers and school administrators revealed systemic support for such ideologies.
Under Trump’s proposed policies, schools promoting CRT, gender ideology, and other contentious content may face legal challenges for civil rights violations and risk losing federal funding. This approach aligns with parents’ concerns about transparency and parental involvement in their children’s education.
In another incident, Gimelshteyn’s daughter revealed that a female student at her school had changed her name and was using the boy’s bathroom without parental knowledge. This lack of communication prompted Gimelshteyn to withdraw her daughter from public school due to the pervasive DEI and gender ideology in the district.
Gimelshteyn believes these issues have been present since the early 2000s but intensified in 2020 with the election of the Biden-Harris administration, particularly with the push for DEI, social-emotional learning, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in classrooms.
The Biden administration’s Department of Justice allocated substantial funding for DEI efforts in K-12 schools, supporting projects aimed at promoting LGBTQ inclusion and embedding anti-racism and anti-oppression principles. The Department of Agriculture also faced criticism for a nondiscrimination policy that threatened to withhold federal funding for school lunches in states opposing certain gender-related policies.
The ongoing debates over educational priorities, parental involvement, and ideological influences in schools continue to shape discussions about the future of public education in America. As parents, educators, and policymakers navigate these complex issues, the focus remains on finding a balance that prioritizes both educational excellence and the rights of families in shaping their children’s learning environments.
