Amid the somber aftermath of a school shooting in Texas, the Department of Education ignited a firestorm of controversy with its bold move to withhold federal funding from hunting and archery programs in schools. The decisive action was rooted in the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a legislative response to the heart-wrenching Robb Elementary School tragedy in Uvalde, Texas.
Representing the Department of Education, a spokesperson explained that the law now mandates the withholding of specific grant funds from archery and hunting programs in schools. This prohibition, which took effect on June 25, 2022, casts its shadow over existing and future awards under all ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) programs. The department stands firm, asserting that it is dutifully administering the bipartisan law as authored by Congress.
Central to the act is a specific provision, an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which bars federal funds from supporting programs that provide “dangerous weapons or training in the use of a dangerous weapon” to individuals.
Yet, the decision has not escaped its fair share of criticism. Tommy Floyd, president of the National Archery in the Schools Program, passionately voiced his concerns about the potential impact on children. For Floyd, shooting sports like archery serve as a vital means of engaging students and nurturing them into responsible adults, fostering meaningful connections with positive role models.
In an attempt to clarify the department’s stance, the “frequently asked questions” document elucidates the purpose of the newly instituted Stronger Connections grants, an integral component of the 2022 law. These grants are strategically crafted to cultivate safer and healthier learning environments, address issues of bullying and violence, and bolster various educational programs, including physical education. Notably, hunting and archery programs were singled out and excluded due to the prohibition on training with dangerous weapons.
The document goes on to define a “dangerous weapon” as any animate or inanimate entity with the capacity to inflict death or serious bodily injury—albeit with the exception of a pocketknife sporting a blade length below 2 1/2 inches, a caveat aligned with existing U.S. law.
Defending the contentious decision, the Department of Education spokesperson emphasized that the Stronger Connections grants were designed with a paramount goal in mind: to furnish all students with secure and supportive learning opportunities and environments crucial to their ultimate success. These funds have already been disbursed to state education agencies, which will now, in a competitive spirit, distribute them to high-need local educational agencies for permissible activities outlined under section 4108 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.