Over $1 billion in DEI grants was spent by the Biden Education Department, according to a report.

Since 2021, the U.S. Department of Education has spent over $1 billion on grants promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in schools across the country, including hiring, programming, and mental health training.

PDE, a right-leaning organization, has released a report exclusively to Planet Chronicle Digital, stating their commitment to "reclaiming our schools from activists imposing harmful agendas."

The researchers at the organization analyzed over four years of publicly available data from the Department of Education to determine the number and amount of grants given for DEI-focused initiatives.

Since 2021, the Biden administration has given out 229 grants in 42 states and Washington, D.C., that met certain criteria.

The report indicates that $489,883,797 was allocated for race-based hiring grants, $343,337,286 was spent on general DEI programming, and $169,301,221 went towards DEI-based mental health training and programming, totaling $1,002,522,304.81 in all.

The report states that the total grant amount includes both awarded and disbursed dollars, as most of the grant money is distributed over a period of several years.

Rhyen Staley, a researcher from Parents Defending Education, explained that grants that fit into multiple categories were only counted once. He also stated that their report may have underestimated the actual number of grants given because researchers were cautious in determining which ones met their criteria. For instance, Staley said that PDE researchers excluded instances where they determined that DEI was not the objective of the program, even if the grant's abstract used DEI "buzzwords."

The report includes grants for various programs, including a $3,974,496 grant for a restorative justice program led by a former Communist Party USA member, a $4,000,000 grant for a 3-week residential "culturally responsive" computer science summer camp for 600 11th and 12th graders, and a $38,000 grant to a Michigan school district for a one-day professional development training by an equity consultant, along with copies of the consultant's book.

Biden has issued multiple executive orders requiring DEI initiatives in federal agencies during his presidency.

The Education Department under Secretary Miguel Cardona has prioritized fostering DEI in US schools. The term "equity" appears over 70 times in the department's 2022-2026 strategic plan. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and meeting students' social-emotional needs are part of the department's six "focus areas."

The Education Department has recently announced that it has awarded over $67 million in grants for magnet schools and diverse schools programs.

Staley stated that the report demonstrates how the Biden administration is promoting far-left ideologies in US schools instead of "rigorous, proven methods of instruction," which is harming students.

"The only individuals or organizations that gain from the substantial grant money are universities, administrators, and DEI consultants, while children's education is neglected," he stated. "This must be altered by prioritizing children's learning in education, rather than focusing on race-based policies and DEI."

Michele Exner, a Senior Advisor at Parents Defending Education, described the spending as unnecessary when students are already struggling to meet academic expectations.

The Department of Education under Secretary Cardona has been a complete failure, with over one billion dollars wasted on progressive pet projects while American students' academic performance continues to decline. This will be the legacy of the Biden administration's Department of Education. Families are fed up and eagerly await new leadership in January who will focus on removing this toxic and divisive waste from our education system.

Nearly one-third of U.S. public schoolchildren were behind grade level at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, according to recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

The Department of Education did not return a request for comment.

Trump has vowed to eliminate the Education Department and reduce unnecessary spending upon his return to office.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump appointed to lead the DOGE advisory board, have indicated their support for dismantling the Education Department.

Congress' approval is necessary for Trump to implement this plan, according to legal experts.

Planet Chronicle' Taylor Penley contributed to this report.