Derek W. Black

I’m honored. Happy to join your class via Zoom.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign

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

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

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

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

Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign

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

I might add that the federal courts consistently held that private biases cannot serve as the excuse to, for instance, refuse to desegregate schools or offer housing to individuals with disabilities. 2/2

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.

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/

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.

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.

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.

#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

In the latest episode of @haveyouheard.bsky.social we talk with the always-inspiring @derekwblack.bsky.social about education, the law, and democracy.

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...

#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

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...

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

And since the Dept. is going through the normal motions of public comment, I encourage you to make your voice heard in opposition. You can find instructions at the top of this notice: public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-09093.pdf

It ought to go w/o saying that the US Department of Education has no business funding political ideology in public schools, but I say it anyway for posterity’s sake. And since the Dept. is going through the normal motions of public comment, I encourage you to make your voice heard in opposition. 2/

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.

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/

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.

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.

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.

Also telling that the Department does not explain its actual authority.

Duly noted. Thank you. Certainly helps their case. At same time, unrestricted funding discretion would violate other constitutional principles. Congress can’t simply let the executive spend at will. I obviously need to read the CR to reach a definitive conclusion.