Derek W. Black
@derekwblack.bsky.social
University of South Carolina Law Professor, focusing on constitutional law, education rights, school funding, and equal opportunity for disadvantaged students.
For my part: I won’t be conceding K-12 school policy to Trump, DeVos and those pushing predatory lending-type school voucher schemes that give parents false hope. Instead: there’s hard work and investment ahead to renew public schools—and I’m ready to do it. @derekwblack.bsky.social
Spotted at Barbara's Books in downtown Chicago. The Education Wars is in excellent company!
Hard to overstate how far off the historic rails the fed commitment to public ed has gone: Offices shuttered. Programs for students eliminated, including mental health. Money withheld, including for rural schools. Persistent threats. Now, new budget pumps billions into private school vouchers.
The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?
The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.
edweek.org
Hard to overstate how far off the historic rails the fed commitment to public ed has gone: Offices shuttered. Programs for students eliminated, including mental health. Money withheld, including for rural schools. Persistent threats. Now, new budget pumps billions into private school vouchers.
The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?
The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.
edweek.org
I’ve studied Jim Ryan’s work for 20 yrs. He’s one of the nation’s foremost legal minds. He’s also incredibly even handed—a “progressive” who co-authored work w/ Federalist Society scholar. I’d take his judgment over Trump admin any day of the week. /1
Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign
nytimes.com
Another example of the administration transgressing the “fixed star in our constitutional constellation…that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.” /2
Ryan would be the first one at the table and listening intently if the admin was making demands that fell within its legal authority. /3
I’ve studied Jim Ryan’s work for 20 yrs. He’s one of the nation’s foremost legal minds. He’s also incredibly even handed—a “progressive” who co-authored work w/ Federalist Society scholar. I’d take his judgment over Trump admin any day of the week. /1
Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign
nytimes.com
National Park Service is asking visitors to identify "any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans." So basically the subjective & biased perspective of the few will dictate the objective facts the many receive. 1/
National Park signage encourages the public to help erase negative stories at its sites
The Department of the Interior is requiring the National Park Service to post signs nationwide by June 13 asking visitors for feedback on any information they feel misrepresents American history.
npr.org
This budget is either ill intended or ignorant. If Congress block grants education funds, states and districts will use that flexibility to reduce the amount they spend on education over the next few years.
Trump's Education Budget Calls for Billions in Cuts, Major Policy Changes
The proposal includes a plan to eliminate 18 existing grant programs and replace them with one funding stream.
edweek.org
This budget is either ill intended or ignorant. If Congress block grants education funds, states and districts will use that flexibility to reduce the amount they spend on education over the next few years.
Trump's Education Budget Calls for Billions in Cuts, Major Policy Changes
The proposal includes a plan to eliminate 18 existing grant programs and replace them with one funding stream.
edweek.org
In the latest episode of @haveyouheard.bsky.social we talk with the always-inspiring @derekwblack.bsky.social about education, the law, and democracy.
#199 Dangerous Learning, Dangerous Times
Legal scholar Derek Black is a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI crusade, arguing that the effort to impose what he calls ‘loyalty oaths’ on schools is blatantly unconstitutional. Bl
soundcloud.com
New @haveyouheard.bsky.social episode out with @derekwblack.bsky.social! This is going to be a good one. Can't recommend Black's books enough open.spotify.com/episode/1ddU...
Hard to believe that @haveyouheard.bsky.social is closing in on 200 episodes... Our latest, starring @derekwblack.bsky.social on what's really driving the Trump assault on public education and what we can do about it, is one of my faves soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...
#199 Dangerous Learning, Dangerous Times
Legal scholar Derek Black is a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI crusade, arguing that the effort to impose what he calls ‘loyalty oaths’ on schools is blatantly unconstitutional. Bl
soundcloud.com
I believe in America. I believe in public schools. I believe a family ought to be able to live on a week’s worth of work. And I believe politicians who chase unconstitutional agendas that do nothing to advance those things should promptly lose their jobs.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign Ten Commandments bill after Senate approval
The legislation would require the religious text to be displayed in all public school classrooms. The Republican governor has said: "Let's get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law."
nbcnews.com
I believe in America. I believe in public schools. I believe a family ought to be able to live on a week’s worth of work. And I believe politicians who chase unconstitutional agendas that do nothing to advance those things should promptly lose their jobs.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to sign Ten Commandments bill after Senate approval
The legislation would require the religious text to be displayed in all public school classrooms. The Republican governor has said: "Let's get this bill to my desk. I'll make it law."
nbcnews.com
Public schools will remain public. In what would have been the most consequential school case since the days of Brown v Board, the Court sides with sanity on the question of whether states must allow churches to run charter schools.
Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma from launching taxpayer-funded religious charter school
The Supreme Court on Thursday, in a 4-4 ruling, said Oklahoma cannot create the nation's first religious charter school funded directly with taxpayer dollars.
abcnews.go.com
Public schools will remain public. In what would have been the most consequential school case since the days of Brown v Board, the Court sides with sanity on the question of whether states must allow churches to run charter schools.
Supreme Court blocks Oklahoma from launching taxpayer-funded religious charter school
The Supreme Court on Thursday, in a 4-4 ruling, said Oklahoma cannot create the nation's first religious charter school funded directly with taxpayer dollars.
abcnews.go.com
Patriotic & classical education are the labels through which conservatives have counteracted woke education w/ their own extreme right version of history & hero worship. The US Dept. of Ed just announced them as official priorities for new charter school grants. 1/
How Trump’s School Priorities Will Shape New Ed. Dept. Grants
The Department of Education on Tuesday announced the priorities it will use to award competitive grants.
edweek.org
Patriotic & classical education are the labels through which conservatives have counteracted woke education w/ their own extreme right version of history & hero worship. The US Dept. of Ed just announced them as official priorities for new charter school grants. 1/
How Trump’s School Priorities Will Shape New Ed. Dept. Grants
The Department of Education on Tuesday announced the priorities it will use to award competitive grants.
edweek.org
AZ vouchers as a cautionary tale: $1 billion a year in private school tuition; 45% of the students receiving vouchers never attended public school; & a big chunk of the rest left A-rated schools. So much for helping needy students in struggling schools.
12News I-Team finds Arizona's $1 billion voucher experiment hurting high-performing public districts and charter schools
Former Gov. Doug Ducey said the state's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts would pull kids out of failing schools—state records tell an entirely different story.
12news.com
AZ vouchers as a cautionary tale: $1 billion a year in private school tuition; 45% of the students receiving vouchers never attended public school; & a big chunk of the rest left A-rated schools. So much for helping needy students in struggling schools.
12News I-Team finds Arizona's $1 billion voucher experiment hurting high-performing public districts and charter schools
Former Gov. Doug Ducey said the state's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts would pull kids out of failing schools—state records tell an entirely different story.
12news.com
As usual, I am confused by the Department of Education’s new policy. Says it will immediately spend $60 million additional on charter schools. But I am unaware of Congress ever having dumped money in a piggy bank that allows Ed to spend at will.
Education Department Adds $60 Million in Grants for Charter Schools
The department will free up the funding after it gained more spending leeway in a March budget bill.
edweek.org
Absent such authority from Congress, this strikes me as clearly unconstitutional. The constitution reserves the power of the purse solely to Congress. Remember, the Court just recently struck down Biden spending money on student loans that Congress didn’t grant. 2/2
As usual, I am confused by the Department of Education’s new policy. Says it will immediately spend $60 million additional on charter schools. But I am unaware of Congress ever having dumped money in a piggy bank that allows Ed to spend at will.
Education Department Adds $60 Million in Grants for Charter Schools
The department will free up the funding after it gained more spending leeway in a March budget bill.
edweek.org
Firing the attorneys at the Dept. of Ed Office for Civil Rights reversed Congress’s 50yr old decision that the right to be free from discrimination at school should not be a pay to play system. Nation Center for Youth Law is trying to fill the gap, but needs help.
Nonprofit Wants to Take on Civil Rights Cases Trump’s Ed Department Left Behind
Capitalizing on ‘brain drain’ caused by mass firings, the National Center for Youth Law is hiring former department attorneys to resolve complaints.
the74million.org
Firing the attorneys at the Dept. of Ed Office for Civil Rights reversed Congress’s 50yr old decision that the right to be free from discrimination at school should not be a pay to play system. Nation Center for Youth Law is trying to fill the gap, but needs help.
Nonprofit Wants to Take on Civil Rights Cases Trump’s Ed Department Left Behind
Capitalizing on ‘brain drain’ caused by mass firings, the National Center for Youth Law is hiring former department attorneys to resolve complaints.
the74million.org
The list of recent authoritarian behavior toward and in schools is long and astounding but this either takes the cake or ranks toward the top. Oklahoma’s new standards call for the teaching of "discrepancies" in the 2020 election results. 1/x
Oklahoma education standards say students must identify 2020 election 'discrepancies'
New academic standards in Oklahoma call for the teaching of "discrepancies" in the 2020 election, continuing the spread of a false narrative years after it was first pushed by Trump and his allies.
npr.org
Against voters’ will, including rural republicans, party ideologues shoved private school vouchers down the throats of TX, TN, and more this spring. Now they are forcing vouchers on the entire country—even in states that are completely opposed—& bypassing the normal Senate process.
House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers
House Republicans want to set aside up to $5 billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools, marking an unprecedented effort to use public money ...
apnews.com
Against voters’ will, including rural republicans, party ideologues shoved private school vouchers down the throats of TX, TN, and more this spring. Now they are forcing vouchers on the entire country—even in states that are completely opposed—& bypassing the normal Senate process.
House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers
House Republicans want to set aside up to $5 billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools, marking an unprecedented effort to use public money ...
apnews.com