Trump’s Plan to Close the Department of Education What It Could Mean for American Students

President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. In a December 12 interview with Time magazine, Trump discussed his desire to “virtually close” the Department of Education in Washington, stating that education should be moved back to the states. He emphasized that basic subjects like English and mathematics should be taught, but it’s time to reduce the federal government’s role in education.

Trump has consistently criticized the Department of Education, viewing it as an example of federal overreach into American families’ lives. During a rally in Wisconsin back in September, he boldly stated, “We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” emphasizing his desire to drain the government education swamp and halt what he calls the misuse of taxpayer dollars in the education system.

The Department of Education was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, fulfilling a campaign promise to the National Education Association (NEA). It was created to oversee federal funding for schools and ensure equal access to educational opportunities. But now, Trump’s administration is calling for a change, which could significantly impact how education is structured and funded across the country.

Here’s a closer look at the role of the Department of Education and what could happen if Trump’s proposal to eliminate it goes forward:

1. Funneling Federal Funding to States and Schools

The Department of Education plays a critical role in managing federal funds that support K-12 schools, particularly for disadvantaged students. Programs like Title I, which helps schools educate low-income students, and the IDEA program, which assists schools in accommodating children with disabilities, are major parts of its responsibilities. These programs allocate billions in funding annually.

While federal funding only accounts for about 10% of school funding, this money plays a vital role in helping schools meet the needs of vulnerable student populations. If the department were to be dissolved, the challenge would be to figure out how to continue supporting these programs and who would take over the distribution of these funds.

2. Oversight and Regulatory Functions

The Department of Education also ensures that educational institutions comply with federal regulations, including those regarding civil rights. For instance, the Office of Civil Rights investigates allegations of discrimination at schools. Additionally, the department establishes regulations for various issues, such as student loans, loan forgiveness, and protections for transgender students, which have become politically charged in recent years.

If Trump’s plan succeeds, it’s unclear how this oversight would be handled or whether other federal agencies would take on these responsibilities.

3. Federal Funding Comes with Strings

Federal education funding is often tied to specific requirements and reporting conditions. Some believe that these conditions create unnecessary red tape. In this context, Trump and others suggest using block grants—lump sums of money given directly to states with fewer requirements—if the department were to be abolished.

While this could reduce bureaucracy, it could also mean less accountability for how funds are spent, which has raised concerns among critics.

4. Would Federal Education Funding Disappear?

Despite concerns, experts believe that federal education funding wouldn’t vanish if the Department of Education were shut down. Funding programs like Title I, which has wide bipartisan support, could potentially be transferred to other agencies or remain intact in some form.

However, Congress has resisted past attempts to cut funding for education. Even when Trump’s administration proposed budget cuts to the department, Congress, led by Republicans, often increased the department’s budget instead. This suggests that a full shutdown of the department would face significant challenges.

5. Will Congress Support the Abolition?

Eliminating a federal agency requires approval from Congress, which makes it unlikely that Trump’s proposal will easily pass. Calls to abolish the Department of Education have surfaced before, notably during President Ronald Reagan’s time, but they did not gain traction. Even with Republican control of both the Senate and House during Trump’s first term, a proposal to merge the Department of Education with the Department of Labor failed to advance.

Now, with a Republican majority again, including two new Senators who support the idea of shutting down the department, the possibility remains, but it’s uncertain if there will be enough support in Congress to make it happen.

In conclusion, while Trump’s goal to eliminate the Department of Education has captured attention, the details of how this would work and its potential impact on American schools remain unclear. The debate will likely continue as lawmakers and educators weigh the consequences of dismantling this crucial part of the federal government.

Source: CNN News

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