Cruz introduces bill requiring transparency over foreign funds in schools

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced a bill Monday that would require schools to inform parents when any foreign funding or curriculum is being used.  

The Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act would give parents the opportunity to look over any curriculum given to schools by other nations, or curriculum purchased with foreign funds.

Schools would also have to disclose financial transactions with foreign entities to parents, as well as when an employee is getting paid by a foreign country.

“The Chinese Communist Party expends vast resources to control what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think. The CCP continues to target American educational institutions, as do other foreign adversaries,” Cruz said in a statement.

“The TRACE Act will give parents the transparency they need and deserve, and help safeguard classrooms from foreign influence. The House has already passed this bill. I urge my Senate colleagues to take it up expeditiously and pass it,” he added. 

A companion bill in the House, introduced by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), has cleared the House Education Committee. 

Lawmakers held a hearing last year about concerns regarding the influence China has on American schools, particularly regarding the Confucius Classrooms program, which is run by a Chinese-sponsored education organization.