U.S. Senators Demand Nationwide Audit on Foreign Funding in U.S. K-12 Classrooms

Strategic Insights -

A growing concern over the influence of hostile foreign governments in U.S. education has led U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to request a nationwide audit from the U.S. Department of Education. The inquiry stems from new data showing entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have sent millions of dollars to schools in 34 states, including Iowa. The lawmakers, joined by 17 colleagues, are driving awareness of CCP-linked organizations supporting American K-12 schools and urging the administration to address the issue, first by determining its extent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Senators are requesting a nationwide audit from the U.S. Department of Education to determine the extent of funding from hostile foreign governments to America's K-12 classrooms.
  • Entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have sent millions of dollars to schools in 34 states, including Iowa, with a total of $17.9 million in funding received by U.S. schools in the last 14 years.
  • The CCP has been accused of influencing America's education system through grants, sister school partnerships, "Confucius Classrooms," and other state-sponsored programming.
  • The senators are particularly concerned about the use of Confucius Institutes, which incorporate CCP-influenced teachings into curricula, and have expressed concerns over espionage in the U.S.
  • The audit aims to address the issue by determining its extent and finding ways to prevent hostile foreign governments from influencing American education.

Statistics:

  • $17.9 million: total funding received by U.S. schools from CCP-linked organizations in the last 14 years.
  • 34 states: number of states where CCP-linked organizations have sent funding to schools.
  • 14 years: duration over which U.S. schools have received funding from CCP-linked organizations.
  • Millions of dollars: unspecified amount of funding sent by CCP-linked entities to schools in 34 states.

Sources:

  • Letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
  • Op-ed by Sen. Chuck Grassley
  • Information from Sen. Chuck Grassley's office