A new report from Defending Education alleges that 55 K-12 school districts have spent over $17 million onethnic studies, professional development, curricula, textbooks, and programming."What is being introduced in schools under the banner of ethnic studies is less about broadening academic horizons and more about advancing a narrow ideological agenda,"Nicole Neily, president and founder of Defending Education, toldFox News Digital in a statement."These programs often prioritize activism over analysis, presenting students with lessons framed around privilege, oppression, and resistance," she added. "The result is an environment that emphasizes division rather than common ground, and criticism rather than understanding. Parents have every right to advocate for a more balanced approach that equips students to comprehensively engage in society without politicizing classrooms."NATIONS 2 LARGEST TEACHERS UNIONS FUNNELED NEARLY $50M TO LEFT-WING GROUPS, WATCHDOG REPORT SAYSSome of the examples in the new report, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, include anethnic studies course for grades 912 from Imagine Learning which focuses on "deconstructing systems of power that perpetuate inequality."Gibbs Smith Educations "Voices: An Ethnic Studies Survey," which Defending Education says is used in California and Pennsylvania, "examines the experiences and contributions of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, and Asian Americans. Students will learn the terms and tools they need to analyze the impacts of race and ethnicity in US history and the present day."Another example highlighted was NewselasCalifornia Ethnic Studies Collection Guide, created by Community Responsive Education and also used in California school districts, which features language such as colorism, environmental racism, implicit bias, intersectionality, patriarchy, and white supremacy.Lessons include questioning national borders and citizenship to promoting movements and groups such as the Black Panther Party,Black Lives Matter, reparations, the "land back movement," and environmental justice.NEW K-12 SCHOOL FOCUSES ON PROMOTING AMERICAN PRINCIPLES, ELIMINATING 'WOKE IDEOLOGY'University of California BerkeleysThe Puente Project curriculum, which Defending Education's report documents as being used in The Golden State and makes courses for middle school, high school, and college, includes teachingracial justice,gender and sexuality, andenvironmental justice.Other examples includedocuments showing Lynwood Unified School Districtcontracted with 5M Legacy to provide a "Black History Matters 2U History Course" that had "ethnic studies" workshops for male students only.The district reportedly spent over $160,000 on the consultant.Riverside Unified School District in Californiaspent an estimated $114,625 to send 14 educators on a cross-country trip as ethnic studies professional development.Rhyen Staley, research director at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital in a statement that ethnic studies are being politicized.NATIONS REPORT CARD' SHOWS ALARMING DECLINE IN SCIENCE, MATH, AND READING SCORES"Ethnic studies, hidden behind a shallow veneer of history and culture, is a far-left political programming meant to turn the youngest children into social justice activists," Staley said. "One of its core purposes is to advance divisive topics such as critical race theory and radical gender ideologies into K-12 schools to turn children against each other and Western culture. Parents and the community writ large should be appalled, demand that ethnic studies cease being taught, and replace it with history that uplifts."Fox News Digital reached out to Gibbs Smith Education, Newsela, The Puente Project, Lynwood Unified School District, and Riverside Unified School District for comment.In a statement to Fox News Digital, Imagine Learning said, "Imagine Learnings Ethnic Studies course supports state-mandated graduation requirements such as Californias AB 101."Imagine Learning added that its "course is aligned with the California Department of Educations Model Curriculum and is designed to promote academic inquiry, civic engagement, and understanding of U.S. history and society. It does not advance political viewpoints."On Wednesday morning, the House Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education is holding a related hearing titled, "From Playground to Classroom: The Spread of Antisemitism in K-12 Schools." The hearing is also expected to focus on anti-Americanism.