Zuckerberg Closes Schools for Ethnicity-based Communities amidst Trump's Enforcement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies
The Primary School's Last Hurrah:
Back in 2016, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his partner, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, ignited a spark of hope with The Primary School. A tuition-free private school dedicated to assisting low-income families and people of color, it promised access to education, healthcare, and social services. Fast forward to the end of the 2025–26 school year, and that flame is about to be extinguished.
According to recent announcements, The Primary School will shut its doors forever, supposedly due to a lack of funding. But when you've got billions backing you, one might raise an eyebrow at the predicament.
In its ten-year lifespan, the political landscape experienced a significant shift, and it's hard not to scrutinize the decision to close the school amidst this ever-changing environment. In its early days, The Primary School recognized the challenges facing families in low-income areas and the detrimental impact of systemic racism. The school's mission acknowledged the disproportionate struggles of communities of color, not being able to afford or access adequate services[1]. A diverse team, consisting of individuals with backgrounds in education, healthcare, and family support, was established to redress the imbalance[1].
Fast forward to the present, and this mission has come under scrutiny. Meta, once a vocal proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), recently disbanded its DEI programs, following the footsteps of the Trump administration's crackdown on these initiatives[3]. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which originally funded The Primary School, scrubbed its website of inclusivity and economic fairness rhetoric and terminated its DEI team[3]. These developments mirror Trump's efforts to withhold federal funding from schools that promote the importance of inclusivity[4].
Shuttering the school might just be Zuckerberg aligning his financial endeavors with his current interests. But for the families who rely on the school, this decision proves devastating. The school was more than a place for learning; it provided access to healthcare services and support they otherwise struggled to obtain.
Veronica Van Leeuwaarde, a mother of two students who attended The Primary School, opened up to the San Francisco Standard, recounting how school employees helped her secure an appointment at Kaiser Permanente to discuss her son's learning difficulties. This eventually led to a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a diagnosis that would have been significantly harder for her to navigate alone[6].
The school will offer families between $1,000 to $10,000 to help cover the costs of enrolling their children in another school[7]. However, with the average tuition cost for private elementary schools in Palo Alto reaching around $35,000, and $16,500 across California[7], the support offered will barely make a dent.
The school's funding woes are undeniable, with contributions dropping from $8 million in 2022 to $3.7 million in 2023[8]. You'd think that if the people involved in the school's inception were worth nearly $200 billion[9], this would be a worthy project to invest in to keep operating.
Sources:[1] https://www.theprimaryschool.org/[2] https://www.theprimaryschool.org/news/statement-from-the-primary-school-leadership[3] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/09/mark-zuckerberg-Facebook-diversity-initiatives-demoted[4] https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-leadership/can-trumps-education-department-cut-funding-for-schools-that-practice-diversity-training/2020/08[5] https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/29/mark-zuckerberg-chan-zuckerberg-initiative-teams/[6] https://sfstandard.com/business/the-primary-school-east-palo-alto-closure-impact-on-families-parents-transition-support/[7] https://www.privateschoolreview.com/averages/private-elementary-school-tuition-costs-by-city/Palo-Alto-California[8] https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/The-Primary-School-to-close-in-2026-over-17072744.php[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg#Net_worth
- Despite the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's initial commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recent developments suggest a shift, with the disbanding of DEI programs and the termination of the DEI team, mirrorings Trump's efforts to withhold federal funding from schools promoting inclusivity, leading to questions about the closure of The Primary School in light of the changing political landscape.
- The future of education-and-self-development for low-income families and people of color is unclear as technology giants, like Meta, shift their focus, potentially impacting the availability of tech-focused resources and opportunities, a core offering at The Primary School.
- The closure of The Primary School, a significant general-news story, raises concerns about the commitment of the tech community to supporting underrepresented communities, especially in the areas of education and social services, and their role in shaping the future of underprivileged populations.
