Louisiana governor prohibits critical race theory from being taught in K-12 public schools.

On Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, issued an executive order prohibiting the application of critical race theory in the K-12 public education system of Louisiana.

The governor's office stated that Critical Race Theory (CRT) involves "divisive teachings that encourage students to view life through a racial and victimhood perspective," while Landry believes that students should be taught about "American exceptionalism and the principles enshrined in the State and Federal Constitutions of the United States that recognize the inherent worth of every individual."

"This executive order is a much-needed sigh of relief for parents and students across our state, especially as kids are heading back to school," Landry stated. "Teaching children that they are currently or destined to be oppressed or to be an oppressor based on their race and origin is wrong and has no place in our Louisiana classrooms."

"Dr. Brumley's leadership will ensure that our education system remains on track, emphasizing American values and practical instruction," he stated.

In January, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) unanimously reappointed Dr. Cade Brumley as the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education.

The executive order states that "CRT and its offshoots teach students to perceive the world through a racial lens and assume that some students are either consciously or unconsciously racist, sexist, or oppressive, while also classifying some students as victims."

The governor's office states that "those divisive concepts are incompatible with America's founding principles of liberty, justice, equality, opportunity, and unity among its citizens."

The 2024 Legislative Session enacted Act 326, which guarantees that public school children have the right to be free from discrimination based on their race or national origin. Specifically, the act prohibits schools from teaching children that they are currently or will become oppressed or oppressors based on their race or national origin.

Brumley was instructed by Landry to examine rules, bulletins, regulations, contracts, and policies within the Department of Education and take action to remove or report any materials that promote the idea that "an individual's race or gender makes them inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, consciously or unconsciously."

As State Superintendent since 2020, Brumley is directed to report any content that suggests that an individual's moral character is determined by their race or sex, or that they are responsible for past actions committed by others of the same race or sex.

The order prohibits the use of materials that assert that meritocracy or traits such as a strong work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race or sex to oppress another race or sex, or that encourage students to discriminate against someone based on their color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other characteristics protected by federal or state law.