Federal education changes could have a ‘negative impact,’ chief of Wake schools warns
Superintendent Robert Taylor says the state of Wake County’s schools is strong but now faced with uncertainty over education changes coming from the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has made a number of education changes, including ending rules that kept immigration agents out of schools, cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in federal education funding and ordering schools to remove DEI programming.
In his State of the Schools speech Wednesday night at Southeast Raleigh High School, Taylor said Wake will follow the law while trying to reduce the “negative” impacts of any federal education changes.
“We are all aware that a series of executive orders and policy proposals may impact federal education funding and regulations,” Taylor said. “This is an evolving situation, and we are working diligently to understand its implications.”
Reassuring undocumented families in Wake schools
Undocumented families have become concerned since the Trump administration rescinded rules that kept “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches and hospitals off limits from federal immigration raids.
Wake has sent principals guidelines on how to respond if federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents show up at school. This guidelines include reserving the right to not allow immigration agents on campus unless they have a federal judicial warrant authorizing access to the school.
In his speech, Taylor said it’s “non-negotiable” that a government agency like the school system must follow the law. Wake is in daily communication with its legal counsel to ensure they are in compliance with the law, according to Taylor.
“While we must follow the law, we will not abandon our values — specifically our belief that every child is uniquely capable and deserves to be challenged and engaged in relevant, rigorous, and meaningful learning each day, Taylor told the packed audience at Southeast Raleigh High’s auditorium.
In an interview with The News & Observer, Taylor said the district has been providing mental health support, such as counseling, to students who are stressed out by the fears of deportation.
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Wake schools budget uncertainty after federal grant cuts
Wake is also dealing with budget uncertainty over how many more federal grants it may lose.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education terminated a $11.8 million grant that Wake has been using to help recruit and retain teachers at 24 high-needs schools. It was among more than $600 million in federal teacher training grants that were eliminated because the Department of Education accused recipients of promoting “divisive ideologies.”
Wake plans to appeal the loss of the grant while waiting to see if any other federal funding will be cut.
“Our most important obligation is to the students and families of Wake County,” Taylor said in his speech. “They are our constituents and the reason our school system exists.
“Serving their needs will remain our highest priority And we will do everything in our power, within the law, to mitigate any negative impact of funding or policy changes.”
Effect of Trump executive orders on DEI, education
On Feb. 14, the Department of Education gave public schools a 14-day notice to remove “DEI programming” or risk loss of federal funding. Taylor told The N&O that the district is reviewing its programs.
The DEI controversy has spilled over into meetings with school board member Sam Hershey apologizing for talking about “mediocre white men” while accusing DEI critics of being racists. Board member Lynn Edmonds accused President Donald Trump of trying “to destroy democracy.”
Moms for Liberty has demanded Wake comply with Trump’s executive orders or the group says it will file a complaint to try to remove the district’s federal funding.
In his speech, Taylor said educators and policymakers need to seek common ground. Taylor said the district will listen with an open mind to all concerns and be responsive to them “as long as we can do so in a way that is consistent with our objective of supporting the needs of every student.”
“I have no illusions that there will be universal agreement about the actions we take - but when has that ever been the case?” Taylor said. “Public service demands the courage to navigate differing viewpoints and make decisions in the best interest of our community.
“We will meet this new reality with courage, compassion, wisdom, and grace. This is our moral and professional duty as educators, and this is what our students and families expect and deserve.”
State of Wake schools ‘is very strong’
Most of Taylor’s speech, though, was about him promoting the state of North Carolina’s largest school district. He said Wake “is strong and getting stronger.”
“I can state with confidence at the outset that the state of the Wake County Public School System is very strong indeed,” Taylor said.
Wake is above pre-pandemic levels in multiple state exams and/or in some grade levels. A national study also found that Wake is at or above its 2019 achievement levels.
“Our hardworking students and teachers have bounced back from the pandemic by nearly all measures, both formal and informal,” Taylor said.
Taylor added that “while COVID-19 brought unprecedented disruptions, it also revealed the resilience and adaptability of our students and educators.”
But at the same time, Taylor acknowledged that outcomes for Black, Hispanic and low-income students still lag far behind other students.
Wake’s new student-centered learning model
Taylor said Wake’s new “student-centered learning model” will help improve outcomes for all students. It’s based on four pillars: “See Me,” “Challenge Me,” Engage Me” and “Know Me.”
▪ See Me includes giving differentiated lesson plans and specialized services to meet the needs of each student.
▪ Challenge Me includes pushing students outside their comfort zones to take rigorous courses.
▪ Engage Me includes finding different ways to get students interested in school, including magnet schools, early colleges and career academies.
▪ Know Me includes helping students feel like they’re known with personalized learning plans and improving student attendance rates.
The speech included performances by different student groups, including a robotics team demonstration, civics debate and singing.
“In essence, the new model encourages administrators, teachers, and staff to view everything they do through a student lens,” Taylor said.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM.
