This bill would add a prohibition to section 2231 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It would bar the use of funds made available to carry out that subpart from funding curriculum, teaching, or counseling that "promotes or compels a divisive concept" as described in the bill. The bill refers to the Department of Education proposed priorities published at 86 Fed. Reg. 20348 (April 19, 2021).
The bill defines "promotes or compels a divisive concept" to include race stereotyping or race scapegoating, or promotion of any of the following concepts:
(i) One race is inherently superior to another race.
(ii) The United States is fundamentally racist.
(iii) An individual, by virtue of his or her race, is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.
(iv) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race.
(v) Members of one race cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race.
(vi) An individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race.
(vii) An individual, by virtue of his or her race, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race.
(viii) Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race.
(ix) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.
The bill also defines "race scapegoating" as assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or members of a race because of their race, and "race stereotyping" as ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or to an individual because of the individual's race.
If you are a school, district, educator, or organization that receives funds under the covered subpart of section 2231, those specific funds could not be used for curriculum, teaching, or counseling that meets the bill's definition of "promotes or compels a divisive concept." The bill text names the program area by referencing the American History and Civics Education priorities notice. No publicly available information on enforcement mechanisms or penalties is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information. The bill text does not include cost estimates or changes to funding amounts.
The bill's title and text indicate its purpose is to prevent the use of certain American History and Civics Education program funds for curriculum, teaching, or counseling that the bill defines as promoting or compelling specified "divisive concepts." This is stated in the bill language and reflected in the short title "Protect Equality And Civics Education Act of 2025."
No publicly available information.