Imagine finding out that over $100 million of taxpayer money has been spent on programs in schools that sound good on paper but raise big questions about their real impact.
From 2021 to 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded more than 100 grants to schools across 36 states, focusing on projects labeled as promoting restorative justice, social-emotional learning (SEL), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). For conservatives, these initiatives often symbolize government overreach, misplaced priorities, and wasted taxpayer dollars.
Where Did the Money Go?
According to the report, the DOJ grants totaled $100,113,942 and were divided into four categories:
- General Programs: $45.2 million went to broad initiatives that mention SEL and restorative justice.
- DEI Projects: $32 million funded efforts targeting outcomes for specific demographic groups.
- Consulting and Certifications: $19.8 million paid consultants to train staff on contentious concepts like critical race theory and gender ideology.
- New Administrative Roles: $10.2 million hired positions like restorative justice facilitators.
One example included nearly $2 million awarded to Minnesota’s Department of Education to embed “anti-racism and anti-oppression practices” in schools. Another grant gave Bowling Green State University $1.8 million to teach rural districts mindfulness meditation, yoga, and even knitting circles for student mental health.
While these programs aim to improve school climates, critics argue they often lead to divisive classrooms and pull resources away from core academics.
The Problem with “Improving School Climate”
At the heart of many grants is the idea of “improving school climate.” Instead of traditional discipline, schools are encouraged to use restorative justice practices.
This approach brings together students involved in incidents—both offenders and victims—to discuss the harm caused. While this might sound reasonable, it disrupts class time for all students and removes clear consequences for bad behavior.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is another focus of these grants. Originally intended to teach children life skills like self-control and goal setting, SEL has morphed into what’s called “Transformative SEL.” This new version emphasizes collective equity and often serves as a vehicle to bring DEI principles into the classroom. For many conservatives, this shift feels like ideological indoctrination.
Nevada Avoids the “Bad List”
Here’s a silver lining for the silver state and taxpayers: Nevada is notably absent from the DOJ’s spending spree.
While other states, like California and Minnesota, raked in millions for controversial programs, Nevada hasn’t made the list of top recipients.
Republican Governor Joe Lombardo’s recent efforts to roll back restorative justice policies align with a conservative push to refocus schools on discipline and academics.
In his legislative address last year, Lombardo pointed to over 6,800 violent incidents in Clark County schools in just seven months, arguing that restorative justice policies left teachers powerless.
His reforms aimed to give educators more authority to address disruptions and ensure safer learning environments. While progressives criticized these changes as punitive, many conservatives saw them as a step toward restoring accountability in schools.
Lombardo signed his flagship school safety legislation, AB 330 the Safer and Supportive Schools Act, into law in June 2023, saying:
“I’m excited by the meaningful legislation my administration was able to pass in our first legislative session. I signed long-awaited school safety reforms, a historic education budget and education accountability measures, and common-sense public safety policies – all while ensuring Nevadans faced no new taxes and making unprecedented investments into state savings accounts.”
Critics of rolling back programs like SEL and restorative justice argue these initiatives address long-standing inequities. They claim these practices reduce suspensions and expulsions, which disproportionately affect students of color and other marginalized groups.
The debate over how to best spend taxpayer dollars in education isn’t going away anytime soon. For now, the spotlight is on whether these programs truly benefit students—or just create more government waste.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.