(The Center Square) – Illinois education funding could be affected by President Donald Trump’s order to close the U.S. Department of Education over the state’s continued focus on programs the Trump administration says are illegal discrimination.
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.
