Is CRT Taught in K-12 Schools? Congressional Hearing Highlights Divide

During a congressional hearing on civics education Wednesday morning, Democrats stated that K-12 students do not receive instruction on critical race theory. Republicans disagreed and asked witnesses pointed questions to show the framework is in schools. The hearing highlighted the partisan divide on the kinds of instruction students should receive regarding the nation's founding and whether schools should approach teaching with equity or equality. The tension between the parties was evident from the very beginning of the hearing, titled "Back to Basics: America's Founding, Civics, and Self-Government in K-12 Curricula," when committee chair Rep. Aaron Bean, a Republican from Florida, lambasted critical race theory and said American students are behind other countries.