The Department of Education has decided to withhold federal funding from hunting and archery programs in schools, citing the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as the reason. The act was passed in response to a tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Under this law, certain grant funds must be withheld from programs that involve dangerous weapons or training in their use.
The amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act specifically prohibits federal funds from supporting programs that provide dangerous weapons or training in their use to any individual. As a result, archery and hunting programs in schools are impacted by this provision.
Tommy Floyd, president of the National Archery in the Schools Program, expressed his concerns about these new restrictions. He believes that shooting sports can be beneficial for children, helping them develop important skills and fostering relationships with positive role models.
The Department of Education released a document with frequently asked questions, explaining that the grants created under the 2022 law, called Stronger Connections grants, aim to create safer and healthier learning environments while addressing issues like bullying, violence, and hate. These grants can be used for various purposes, including high-quality teaching and learning with a focus on culturally and linguistically responsive practices. However, the grants cannot be used for physical education programs that include hunting or archery due to the prohibition on training in the use of dangerous weapons.
The department defines a “dangerous weapon” as any object or substance that can cause death or serious bodily injury, with the exception of a pocketknife with a blade shorter than 2 1/2 inches, in accordance with U.S. law.
In response to inquiries, a department spokesperson emphasized that the Stronger Connections grants aim to provide safe and supportive learning opportunities for all students. The funds have already been released to state education agencies, and these agencies will distribute the funds to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) based on the guidelines outlined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.