Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies

On April 23, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies, reversing what it describes as harmful federal guidance on school discipline tied to “equity ideology.” The order criticizes the 2014 Obama-era policy that used disparate-impact theory—judging discipline policies based on racial outcome disparities regardless of intent—as forcing schools to consider race when punishing students. It claims this approach led schools to avoid disciplining disruptive students, creating unsafe learning environments and lowering academic achievement. Trump’s order rejects the 2023 guidance that revived those ideas and directs the Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of Justice, to issue new guidance within 30 days that emphasizes discipline based on behavior, not race. It also calls for state and federal coordination to prevent racially discriminatory practices and for a report analyzing past investigations, the influence of nonprofit groups promoting equity-based policies, and recommendations for model discipline codes.