What is the story about?
Social media is abuzz with rumors that President Donald Trump has announced plans for children to attend school for only six months of the year. The rumor has gained
significant traction, particularly on TikTok, and came after Trump signed an executive order in March aiming to begin dismantling the US Department of Education. One video posted on TikTok features a man speaking over images of Trump, with a text overlay reading, “Donald Trump just announced kids only attend school 6 months out of the year.” The video has been viewed over 200,000 times. Another clip claims, “Donald Trump is tryna pass a law where kids only have to go to school for six months,” and has garnered over 400,000 views.
The Facts
The claim is false.
There is no official record, speech, policy statement, executive order, or otherwise, of Donald Trump proposing, announcing, or supporting a plan to shorten the school year to six months. No reputable news outlet has reported such a proposal, and no documentation exists to support the statements being made in viral videos.
Additionally, the number of instructional days required in a school year is not determined by the president or federal government. Education policy, including the length of the academic year, is managed at the state level. Most US states mandate around 180 instructional days per year, which equates to approximately six months of actual school days. However, when accounting for weekends, holidays, and breaks, the school year typically spans around nine months, from late August or early September to late May or early June.
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