Apr 24, 2025, 10:34:00 PM IST

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President Donald Trump has rolled out a series of bold education reforms through a set of executive orders signed on April 23, 2025. These mandates target everything from the role of artificial intelligence in classrooms to how colleges handle foreign donations and accreditation. If you' re a parent, teacher, or student in the U.S., here&rsquo s exactly what you need to know about these changes&mdash written in simple terms, with clear facts, and in a conversational, news-style format.
 

What&rsquo s changing with AI in high school education?

Trump' s executive order puts a strong spotlight on artificial intelligence, signaling a major shift in how students will prepare for future careers. The Education and Labor Departments are now directed to create certification programs and curriculum paths focused on AI for high schoolers. Trump emphasized that the goal is to ensure American students become proficient in the tech that&rsquo s shaping the future.

&ldquo This is a big deal, because AI seems to be where it' s at,&rdquo Trump said during the Oval Office signing, as reported by  USA TODAY.

The order also calls for:

 

• The National Science Foundation to increase research on AI in education
   
• Teacher training grants to prioritize AI education
   
• New AI-related apprenticeship programs through the Labor Department
   

Why is Trump targeting &lsquo woke&rsquo standards in college accreditation?

Trump&rsquo s administration is now challenging how colleges and universities are accredited. Specifically, the new policy accuses accrediting bodies of pushing &ldquo discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards&rdquo that the administration says violate federal law.

The White House says these accreditation agencies could face suspension or lose recognition if they:
 

• Enforce ideological standards
   
• Fail to uphold federal civil rights laws
   
• Don&rsquo t prioritize student outcomes and academic freedom
   

According to the order, this is about returning to &ldquo accountability&rdquo and ensuring education is based on merit and freedom of thought.
 

How is school discipline guidance being reshaped?

One of Trump&rsquo s executive actions reverses the Obama-era guidance on racial bias in school discipline. That earlier guidance, introduced in 2014, aimed to prevent Black students and students with disabilities from being disproportionately punished for minor infractions.

Trump&rsquo s administration believes that guidance led to overly lenient discipline policies, contributing to safety concerns. The new order states its intent is to remove racial bias from schools while restoring local control over discipline practices.

This move is already drawing strong opinions from educators and parents nationwide, as schools assess how the rollback could affect discipline policies.
 

What is disparate-impact liability and why is Trump changing it?

Another significant change comes in the form of ending the use of &ldquo disparate-impact liability&rdquo &mdash a legal theory that says policies may be discriminatory if they result in unequal outcomes, even if those policies are neutral on paper.

Trump&rsquo s order argues that this concept forces institutions to discriminate just to avoid unequal outcomes. He stated:
 

&ldquo Disparate-impact liability undermines civil-rights laws by mandating discrimination&hellip This order restores the true promise of the Civil Rights Movement&mdash a system that does not differentiate between Americans based on race.&rdquo

By revoking this theory, the administration wants schools and institutions to focus on individual merit, not group-based outcomes.
 

What&rsquo s happening with apprenticeships and skilled workforce development?

A major focus of the education overhaul is job training. Trump&rsquo s fifth executive order sets a 90-day deadline for the Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education to present a roadmap to meet the demand for skilled American workers.

Goals include:
 

• Reviving industrial skills for reindustrialization
   
• Identifying gaps in U.S. employer needs
   
• Aligning education with real-world job training and certifications
   

According to the White House, this initiative is designed &ldquo to fully equip the American worker to produce world-class products and implement world-leading technologies.&rdquo
 

How will Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) be affected?

Trump revoked a previous advisory council from the Biden administration and launched a new White House initiative focused on empowering HBCUs. The order highlights HBCUs as &ldquo beacons of educational excellence,&rdquo and the administration promises stronger partnerships with private industries to expand student opportunities.

Key focus areas include:
 

• Affordable degree access
   
• Professional development pipelines for students
   
• Expanded private-sector involvement
   

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also been directed to dissolve the former HBCU and Minority Serving Institutions Advisory Council.
 

What is Trump&rsquo s plan for foreign funding in U.S. universities?

The final piece of this sweeping education reform targets foreign influence on U.S. campuses. Trump reinstated a transparency mandate that requires colleges to publicly disclose foreign gifts and donations.

During his first term, investigations into 19 campuses led to $6.5 billion in previously hidden foreign funds being disclosed. Trump now says his administration will revive those investigations and increase oversight to protect American students from foreign propaganda and exploitation.
 

&ldquo It is the policy of my Administration to end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds,&rdquo Trump declared in the executive summary, aiming to &ldquo safeguard America&rsquo s students and research.&rdquo

 

These seven executive orders mark one of the most significant shake-ups in U.S. education policy in recent years. Whether it&rsquo s about preparing students for AI, redefining fairness in discipline, or increasing transparency in higher education, Trump&rsquo s mandates are setting the stage for a new era of schooling in America.

For now, parents, educators, and institutions alike will be watching closely as these policies are implemented&mdash and debating what they mean for the future of American education.

Sale proceeds may be used to pare down debt or redeployed to other growth opportunities

 

[SINGAPORE] Mapletree Industrial Trust (MIT) : ME8U 0% is looking to divest its data centre in Georgia, US, for US$11.8 million, it said on Wednesday (Apr 23).

 

It entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the proposed divestment of a single-story data centre in the Northwoods Business Center with a third-party buyer. The property, located at 2775 Northwoods Parkway, Norcross, Georgia, has net lettable area of about 32,740 square feet (sq ft) and stands on freehold land with an area of around 140,341 sq ft. 

 

Proceeds from the proposed sale, which is set to complete in Q2 2025, may be used to pare down debt and/or fund working capital requirements, said the manager. 

 

Lily Ler, chief executive of the manager, said: &ldquo The divestment enables us to... redeploy capital into other growth opportunities. We will continue to focus on our portfolio rejuvenation efforts through strategic divestments to improve portfolio quality and deliver sustainable returns to our unitholders.&rdquo

 

The property contributed to around 0.1 per cent of revenue in MIT&rsquo s portfolio for the fiscal year ended Mar 31, 2024. 

 

Noting that its current lease expires in August 2025, the manager said: &ldquo After evaluating all viable options and taking into consideration the property&rsquo s small land plot, the manager concluded that divesting the property at the offered price was in the best interest of unitholders.&rdquo

 

The sale price of US$11.8 million was derived after a competitive bid process conducted by an independent property consultant, the manager said. 

 

It represents an 18.6 per cent premium above an independent valuation of the property of US$9.95 million as at Mar 31.

 

MIT&rsquo s portfolio spans data centres, hi-tech buildings, business park buildings, flatted factories, stack-up/ramp-up buildings and light industrial buildings. 

 

Mapletree Industrial Trust CEO Lily Ler hopes to grow both hyperscaler and colo tenants in the trust' s data centre business.

 

Mapletree Industrial Trust banks on diversification, balance to deliver sustainable returns

As at Dec 31, 2024, its total assets under management (AUM) stood at S$9.2 billion, with 56 properties in North America, 83 in Singapore and two in Japan.

 

As at end-2024, 44.1 per cent of its AUM was in Singapore industrial properties, while 55.9 per cent was in 62 data centres across these three regions.

 

MIT&rsquo s plans include expansion of its data centre portfolio, targeting key European cities such as Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam, as well as Japan, South Korea and Australia. It is keen on more Singapore data centres, though there are constraints to developing new ones in the city-state.