On June 15, 2025, a coalition of Republican governors gathered in Denver, Colorado, to announce a new national initiative aimed at banning the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in K-12 schools. The proposal, called the “Fairness in Education Act,” seeks to prevent the introduction of race-based curricula that the governors argue divides students by focusing excessively on racial identity and historical grievances. The initiative is positioned as a means to restore focus on academic rigor and unity, rather than ideologically driven content.
Governor Jared Polis of Colorado, who hosted the press conference, was joined by Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Greg Abbott of Texas. The proposal comes as part of a larger movement across the country, where numerous GOP-led states have enacted or are considering laws that restrict the teaching of CRT in public schools. The governors argue that CRT promotes racial division and undermines the principles of equality and merit.
“Critical Race Theory is a divisive, unproven framework that teaches our children to view the world through the lens of race rather than character,” Governor Polis said during the announcement. “This bill ensures that our schools focus on teaching the fundamentals of education, not political ideologies that divide our students.”
The “Fairness in Education Act” would prohibit public schools from teaching or promoting CRT, a framework that argues that racism is embedded in the structures of society and institutions. The bill also calls for increased transparency in educational curricula, ensuring that parents have a clear understanding of what is being taught in their children’s classrooms, particularly regarding controversial topics like race, gender, and history.
Governor DeSantis, who has already implemented a similar ban on CRT in Florida, emphasized that the goal is not to erase history but to prevent political ideologies from being forced upon students. He argued that students should be taught to think critically about history without being made to feel guilty based on their race.
“Florida has led the way in ensuring that our students learn about history in a way that promotes unity and understanding, not division,” DeSantis said. “This bill will help ensure that children across the country receive an education based on the ideals of fairness and merit, not political agendas.”
The proposal has drawn significant support from conservative groups, such as the Heritage Foundation and Moms for Liberty, both of which argue that parents should have a say in the content being taught to their children, especially when it comes to controversial issues like race.
However, the bill has met with strong opposition from teachers’ unions, civil rights organizations, and progressive education advocates. They argue that banning CRT limits educators’ ability to teach students about systemic racism and history in an honest and comprehensive manner. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the NAACP have both denounced the proposal, asserting that it would erase important discussions about race and inequality from the classroom.
“This bill is an attempt to whitewash history and prevent students from learning the truth about racism and its impact on our society,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.
As the legislation makes its way through state legislatures, the battle over CRT in schools is expected to be a major issue in the 2025 election cycle, with education policy and the rights of parents and educators remaining a key point of contention.
