National wave of anti-critical race theory measures trickles into California schools

A national conservative movement to limit the teaching of race and racism is finding its way into California schools, leading to worry that teachers are being muzzled.

Elected officials nationwide introduced at least 563 measures to restrict teaching about race in 2021 and 2022, and 241 of those passed, according to “CRT Forward: Tracking the Attack on Critical Race Theory,” a recently released report from the UCLA School of Law. Almost all the measures impacted K-12 education, and 70% sought to control teaching and curriculum in the classroom. The most common consequence for a breach was withholding funding.