President Donald Trump holds an executive order relating to education in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Education Secretary Linda McMahon watch. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
"They're allowing people into school – they can't do math – and yet kids who have worked really hard and are number one in their class out of high school – some place in New Jersey or Mississippi – they can't get into the best schools," Trump said as he signed his order implementing new school accreditation requirements. "What is that all about?"
"I think that gets to your policy, sir, of meritocracy – that we should be looking at those who have real merit to get in," Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who was standing over Trump's shoulder as he signed, chimed in. "And we have to look harder at those universities that aren't enforcing that."
The accreditation reforms, along with the president's Executive Orders on school discipline and "disparate impact theory," were all connected to pulling back from the Biden administration's era of prioritizing DEI over meritocracy. Specifically, the accreditation reforms seek to prevent accreditors from imposing "discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards," while compelling them to "prioritize student outcomes."
Meanwhile, under the Biden administration, the Department of Education released student discipline guidance contending that persistent racism clouds school disciplinary systems. Trump's Wednesday Executive Order rescinds that guidance.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order relating to education in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Besides focusing on returning meritocracy to the education system, the president's Executive Orders also sought to modernize American education and workforce preparation through the implementation of AI education in schools and through a commitment to add 1 million new apprenticeships.
The AI order, Trump's latest pro-AI measure, established a White House task force for AI and education that will work with federal agencies and the private sector to help draft AI programs for schools.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The president previously signed an Executive Order in January, which worked to rescind Biden-era policies that critics say restricted the nation's AI growth.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-signs-education-focused-executive-orders-ai-school-discipline-accreditation-foreign-gifts-more