Trump administration calls minority grant funding racially discriminatory, redirects money to charter schools

"The Trump administration announced Monday it would redirect funding for minority-serving institutions into U.S. charter schools to support school choice. The Department of Education said following the release of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress scores last week, which showed dismal educational outcomes across the nation, the department is shifting funding to advance President Trump's priorities. RELATED: Los Angeles schools are taking measures to protect students from ICE raids. Why hasn't the Bay Area followed suit?"

"In May, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that the department planned to increase charter school funding by $60 million for fiscal year 2025, raising the program's total budget to $500 million. The additional funding announced Monday comes from discretionary grant programs the Trump administration ended funding for last week, including Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI) and other minority-serving institutions, arguing the programs were racially discriminatory because they required schools to maintain a percentage of minority students in their total student enrollment."

The Department of Education redirected discretionary grant funds from minority-serving institutions to support U.S. charter schools and advance school choice priorities. National Assessment of Educational Progress results showed declines in 12th grade math and reading and 8th grade science compared with 2019, motivating the funding shift. The department intends to increase charter school funding by $60 million for fiscal year 2025, raising the program budget to $500 million. The reallocated funds came from programs for Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions, which were labeled racially discriminatory because they required minimum minority enrollment percentages. California State University reported 21 of 22 campuses qualify as HSIs, and CSU officials warned of immediate and irreparable impacts.

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