Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has announced the introduction of the TRACE Act, a bill designed to protect U.S. classrooms from the influence of foreign entities, particularly China. The TRACE Act, which stands for Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education, will require schools to disclose information about any curricula funded or sourced by foreign entities to parents upon request.
This legislation is a companion to a bill introduced in June by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL). “The Chinese Communist Party exerts vast resources to control what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think,” Cruz said. He emphasized the need for transparency to protect American education from foreign adversaries.
Parents will be able to request this information at no cost, and schools must clearly display or communicate parents’ rights under the policy. Michele Exner, director of federal affairs at Parents Defending Education, endorsed Cruz’s measure, citing evidence that foreign nations, particularly the Chinese Communist Party, are trying to influence American classrooms.
Rep. Bean, who chairs the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, introduced his bill to ensure that parents know how foreign funding is affecting their child’s classroom. “American schools are for education, not espionage,” Bean stated, highlighting the need to protect students from foreign influence.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chair of the House Education Committee, supported the measure, noting the significant foreign investments in K-12 schools that could impact curriculum and personnel decisions. “School administrators are not required to share where their funding comes from. That’s unacceptable,” Foxx said.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters also expressed concerns about Chinese influence through programs like Confucius Classrooms, which he described as propaganda efforts to undermine American values. Walters urged Congress to act swiftly to protect American education from foreign adversaries.
With the introduction of the TRACE Act, Cruz and Bean aim to ensure that U.S. classrooms remain free from foreign influence, providing parents with the transparency they need to safeguard their children’s education.
