Understanding the Executive Orders
Their Context, Next Steps, and Key Concerns
It seems that every few days, we hear news of new Executive Orders coming from the President, and much of the time we begin to panic. President Trump has signed more than 140 Executive orders to date1As of April 29, 2025, many of which have real impacts on schools and districts across the country. This can be scary for parents and educators as schools try to navigate potential changes, and punishments, as a result of these actions.
Wait, what is an Executive Order again?
A federal executive order (EO) is a directive issued by a president that manages operations of the federal government. It is not a law and cannot change existing law—that power lies only with Congress. Executive orders can, however, significantly shape how federal agencies enforce existing laws and administer programs.
It is important to note that many of President Trump’s recent executive orders face legal challenges. Several lawsuits have already been filed in response to previous orders, with many of the actions proposed in EOs being paused (i.e., facing injunction and awaiting court decisions), and more are likely in the wake of these announcements.
Below, we summarize some of the new EOs impacting K-12 and what they could mean for your schools and districts, and most importantly education equity.
The Impact?
EOs on their own provide very little detail on the “how” of policy work, choosing to focus on the “why”. For the issues impacted in these EOs, the “how” is the difference between effective programs that provide opportunity for all students and discriminatory and ineffective practices that exacerbate and build on historical discrimination.
We must ensure these critical federal programs promote opportunity for all. Our job is to ensure that students who are historically underserved are not further marginalized as these policies unfold, and to drive our nation, and all our children, forward so that the doors of opportunity stand open for everyone.
In the coming days and months, All4Ed will continue to monitor these issues. Please continue to follow our website, www.all4ed.org, for updates.
For additional details and legal analysis, we invite you to visit our colleagues at Education Counsel for more information. In addition, this chart provides a summary of all seven EOs released on April 23, 2025. All4Ed thanks Mary Wall, former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, for providing this resource.
April 23, 2025
What does the Executive Order say?
This EO seeks to eliminate the use of “disparate impact” liability across all federal programs. Disparate impact is a major legal framework for lawsuits for discrimination, requiring the plaintiff to show that the effect of a policy has created discriminatory impact, even if the motivation or stated purpose of the policy isn’t explicitly discriminatory. The EO directs agencies to roll back civil rights regulations that have historically allowed enforcement based on the effects of a policy.
What happens next?
The Attorney General must submit a report within 30 days identifying all rules and regulations that incorporate disparate impact, with plans for repealing or amending them. Agencies must also review ongoing cases and enforcement efforts and deprioritize any that rely on disparate impact frameworks.
What to look out for?
This order represents a fundamental attack on civil rights enforcement. Disparate impact has been critical for addressing policies that disproportionately harm students of color—even when that is not the publicly stated purpose of the policy in question. Weakening this standard undermines protections under federal civil rights laws, potentially paving the way for more discrimination in education and other areas (e.g., housing and employment) without legal recourse.
April 23, 2025
What does the Executive Order say?
This EO rejects the notion that racial disparities in school discipline practices should be identified and addressed. It criticizes guidance issued under the Biden administration and calls for “race-neutral” approaches and practices that “that do not promote discriminatory equity ideology.”
What happens next?
Within 30 to 120 days, the Departments of Education, Justice, and other agencies must issue new guidance, review past discipline investigations, and create a report assessing equity-based discipline practices. The report will include an assessment of the role of Federally-funded non-profit organizations in “promoting discriminatory-equity-ideology-based discipline and behavior modification techniques.”
What to look out for?
This EO ignores research demonstrating disproportionately in school discipline practices. For example, the 2021-2022 Civil Rights Data Collection found that “Black boys represented 8% of K-12 student enrollment, but 18% of students who received one or more in-school suspensions, 22% of those who received one or more out-of-school suspensions, and 21% of those who were expelled.” By framing equity as a threat to safety, the order risks re-entrenching biased disciplinary practices. It could lead to increased suspensions and expulsions for students of color and decrease accountability for discriminatory policies.
April 23, 2025
What does the Executive Order say?
This EO establishes a White House Task Force to promote AI education across K–12 and higher education. It calls for new federal guidance on integrating AI into instruction, expanding teacher training, creating new AI learning resources, and growing apprenticeship programs focused on AI-related careers. The goal is to build a nationwide pipeline of AI-skilled students and educators, from early education through the workforce.
What happens next?
Within 90 to 120 days, several federal agencies must submit reports or issue guidance on AI’s role in education. This includes guidance from the Secretary of Education on how both formula and discretionary education grants can be used to support AI-based tools for instruction, tutoring, and college and career pathway advising. The EO also calls for the launch of a national “Presidential AI Challenge” within one year to promote innovation and student engagement across age groups and regions.
What to look out for?
While the EO promotes access to AI education, its emphasis on public-private partnerships and workforce alignment may prioritize industry needs over student-centered equity. The order encourages federal guidance on the use of AI in high-impact tutoring and college and career advising—areas where human relationships play a critical role. Given our nation’s history of tracking students of color into low-level academic and CTE pathways, it is essential to ensure that these policies do not reinforce or widen existing opportunity gaps. Without clear safeguards, AI tools risk automating bias or replacing the individualized support that historically underserved students need to succeed. As EOs provide only the initial framework for any initiative, All4Ed will be working with others in the field to monitor next steps and support the effective and equitable integration of AI into education.
April 23, 2025
What happens next?
Within 90 to 120 days, agencies must report on how to expand apprenticeships and restructure, consolidate, or eliminate programs that are deemed ineffective. Agencies are also directed to identify alternative credentials to the 4-year college degree that meet employer needs.
What to look out for?
The order’s framing reinforces a false dichotomy between college and career, especially if alternative credentials are promoted at the expense of the rigorous academic preparation all students need to thrive in our increasingly technical world and workforce. This is problematic, as data demonstrates that higher levels of education result in higher wages. Equity advocates must ensure that students of color have access to high-quality college and career pathways, rather than being tracked into lower-wage sectors without real opportunities for growth. Once again, the details of these programs when implemented will illustrate the true impact and purpose of these initiatives and All4Ed will be carefully monitoring.
Questions?
We’re here for you! There’s a lot of confusing things going on in the education policy world. Send us your questions and we’ll get back to you with answers in future posts.
