The Department of Education (ED) may no longer aid students in the cost of college, protect students from discrimination and help fund education throughout the United States.
On Mar. 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled, “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States and Communities.” In the order, Trump declared that federal funding should be given back to the states.
The ED’s history is long and the department itself has changed its functions throughout the years. First established in 1867 by President Andrew Johnson, its original purpose was to collect data that would help the nation’s schools. Some politicians, however, were concerned that it would have too much influence over schools, leading to demotion to an office in 1868.
In 1979, former President Jimmy Carter signed a law that would separate the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW). This separation established both the ED and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). When it was first founded the department only had a funding of 12 billion dollars, 52 billion in today’s money, this is far different from the department’s budget for fiscal year 2024 which amounted to nearly 268 billion dollars.
The role of the federal government in education has long been a source of political discussion. During the 1980 presidential election, then candidate Ronald Reagan campaigned on eliminating the ED. After winning the presidency, Reagan was unable to eliminate the department. After President Reagan was unable to eliminate the department, both Democrats and Republicans worked together to increase funding to the department. However, this collaboration did not last long as during the 1996 presidential election, the Republican position was “to abolish the Department of Education, end federal meddling in our schools and promote family choice at all levels of learning.”
In recent years both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama saw education as a key policy during their terms. President George W. Bush enacted the, “No Child Left Behind Act,” this act sought to hold schools accountable, focus on standardized testing, hire qualified teachers and help disadvantaged students. This act was replaced by the, “Every Student Succeeds Act,” that President Obama signed into law. This act gave more control to the states, helped disadvantaged students, emphasized early education and supported underperforming schools.
Closing the ED impacts students all throughout the country, requiring an act of Congress to have its functions or duties changed.
Ms. Kimberly Mackey, a social studies teacher at Green Hope, described the potential response from civic groups and individuals. “Some groups are challenging that it cannot be legally eliminated or dismantled solely by a President, but would instead need to be approved by Congress,” she said. Just as Ms. Mackey said, several organizations have sued the federal government over this executive order. Some of them are, the American Federation of Government Employees, Democracy Forward, National Urban League and National Black Justice Center.
Since his inauguration President Trump has signed a slew of executive orders that change education throughout the United States. These orders range from promoting school choice and removing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to ending “racial indoctrination” and “illegal DEIA” in secondary and higher education.
In the executive order, Trump cited that the department currently manages close to 2 trillion in student loan debt. This means that the department roughly manages the same amount of assets as Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has more than 200,000 employees, while the ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid has fewer than 1,500 employees. Trump believes that the ED is not equipped to handle these immense assets. “The Department of Education is not a bank, and it must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve America’s students,” he said.
On top of shifting student loan management, Trump directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure of the department. “Return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” Trump said. He cited current education statistics that showcase some shortcomings in math and English as a reason that the department was failing students and parents alike.
The ED aims to establish policies on federal financial aid, as well as both distributing and monitoring it. After Congress passes education legislation, the department works on the implementation and the enforcement of these policies. The department also allocates federal funding to schools across the country. These often include preschools, K-12 schools and higher education. It also provides special funding towards individuals with disabilities, low-income students, English second language learners and other historically underserved communities.
Wake County is a beneficiary of the federal government’s funding, according to Board Chair Chris Heagarty. He estimated the amount of funding the county receives from the federal government totals to “nearly 28 Million in Title I funding,” Referring to funds that support students who come from disadvantaged communities. This allows these kids to have the opportunity to have access to education like their wealthier peers.
Another part of what the ED does is ensure that all students have access to a high quality education regardless of student’s sex, race, color, national origin, age or disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that disabled students have an access to education. The act impacts students as it ensures that students with special needs are able to receive education at no additional costs to the family. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) gives accommodations to students with special needs to allow them to reach their educational goals. A 504 plan is another way to help students with disabilities have equal access to opportunities. If an individual or institution is in violation of these rights then the department will take action against the violators.
Social studies teacher Ms. Leslie Meadows discussed the potential impact that dismantling the ED would have on students that rely on accommodations, including her own daughter, who has down syndrome. “The oversight of those operations by the Department of Education to ensure equity of opportunity is absolutely invaluable to students like my daughter. Who receive speech and occupational services through the school system, attended preschool through public schools, being served with support in the typical education setting and in the Extended Content Standards (ECS) classroom,” she said. An ECS classroom is a modified classroom that modifies state requirements to allow special education students to succeed in the classroom.
Dismantling the ED will have an immense and direct impact on many students with disabilities who rely on these programs. “Without a centralized system to organize and require states to provide services for the disability community through their IEPs and 504s, it is unclear how long services like my daughter relies on every day will be available,” Ms. Meadows said.
Wake County is mandated to provide these services. Without the federal government, Wake County is left with footing the bill. “This would mean having to defund other educational services to fulfill this legal mandate and, even then, I cannot promise that the interruption in funding would not temporarily interrupt or disrupt plans that require these support services,” said Heagarty.
Wake County alone serves close to 20,000 students with disabilities, which is 13 percent of the county’s population. While the entire United States serves almost 7 million students through the IDEA act, making up close to 15 percent. Changing of the department’s function may affect these students who are already reliant on services from the federal government.
This uncertainty may cause confusion between parents and special education teachers. “There is an immense amount of uncertainty in the disability community right now,” Ms. Meadows said. She also elaborated on the risks of this change, “The quality of services is at risk of deterioration, and that adds additional stress to a community who already has to do so much to fight for equity and inclusion in our education system,” she said.
Stakeholders in education are divided over this issue. Some see the potential negative effects of this dismantlement while others are more optimistic on the future of the role of the federal government in education. While opinions differ, changes in the Department’s future will have long-lasting implications.
“Even if funding is not eliminated outright, shifting responsibility from one federal agency to another could create bureaucratic delays, uncertainty and gaps in services,” Heagarty said.
