**Trump Aims to Overhaul Education System by Targeting "Wokeness"**

Donald Trump, recently elected as President, has outlined an education reform plan with a central focus on eliminating what he terms "wokeness" and "left-wing indoctrination" from America’s schools. Trump’s vision includes banning classroom discussions of gender identity and structural racism, dismantling diversity and inclusion offices, and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports.

Throughout his campaign, Trump portrayed schools as ideological battlegrounds and now plans to leverage federal funding to enforce his educational policies nationwide. His proposed reforms outline severe financial repercussions for schools that do not comply with his directives on various contentious issues. Specifically, Trump has vowed to cut funding to schools that endorse critical race theory or promote curricula he deems inappropriate, and has stated he will withhold funds from schools enforcing vaccine or mask mandates.

Trump’s critics argue that his view of the American education system is overly politicized and not reflective of actual classroom content. Wil Del Pilar from Education Trust labels Trump's claims as "propaganda" and asserts there is no solid evidence supporting claims of widespread liberal indoctrination in schools. Opponents worry that Trump’s proposed cuts could harm public education and disproportionately affect students who depend on school services.

Among Trump's more ambitious proposals is the potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, which he argues has been infiltrated by radicals. The department currently contributes around 14% of K-12 public school funding, mainly for programs aimed at low-income students and special education, although most funding comes from local and state sources. Colleges, however, rely more heavily on federal funds, particularly through student grants and loans.

Trump's plan also includes ending teacher tenure and promoting universal school choice programs, as well as allowing parents to elect school principals. Further, he plans to use his authority to enforce civil rights laws to cut funding selectively from schools and colleges that maintain diversity offices or are accused of antisemitism.

Additionally, Trump has expressed intentions to introduce fines for universities that continue to support diversity initiatives, potentially up to the full amount of their endowments. He has proposed creating a free online university called the American Academy, funded by taxing and fining expansive private university endowments.

The president-elect emphasizes a move away from federal oversight in education, proposing to return control to states while simultaneously advancing nationwide bans on practices he opposes, such as the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

By reinstating his earlier 1776 Commission to promote "patriotic" education and establishing a new body to certify teachers aligned with these patriotic values, Trump seeks to reshape the educational landscape in line with his vision. His goal is to introduce a curriculum that supports what he describes as patriotic principles, positioning his agenda as a counter to progressive influences in education.