But What Does It Mean?

Sure, dismantling and defunding the Dept. of Ed sounds bad, but what does it mean for schools?

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Elon and the Oligarchs and their merry servant, Trump, are working diligently to dismantle and defund key elements of the federal government. Including the Department of Education.

The End of the Department of Education

And, sure, that sounds bad.

But, what does it mean?

What does it mean for schools, districts, and students?

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy offers some state-specific insight:

The Trump administration is reportedly considering dismantling the federal Department of Education (DOE), while Congress is weighing cuts to the federal budget that could significantly reduce education funding.

Here are some notes in terms of the potential funding impact on Kentucky:

Federal grants exceed $1 billion annually in Kentucky, and include funding for school meals, low-income students, children with disabilities, educator training and other essential services.

It’s not clear what grants would be deleted or reduced, but any reduction in federal funds would impact district operations across the Commonwealth.

Here’s what’s at risk:

Title I funds for low-income students: $274 million. Title 1 dollars support education for kids in high-poverty schools. Funds can go to pay teachers, promote parent engagement, operate afterschool programs, fund mentoring and counseling, and provide other services. Over 70% of Kentucky schools are eligible for Title I funding.

IDEA funding for special education: $182 million. These funds help support the extra costs of special education and services for kids with disabilities, including preschool. Dollars can be used to hire and train special education teachers, provide assistive equipment and therapy services, and support specialized transportation, among other costs.

Title II funds for teacher training: $42 million. These grants can be used for professional development, training school leaders, advancing educators along career paths, and other uses that improve teacher quality.

Title IV funds for student support and academic enrichment: $35 million. These funds help support a well-rounded education, such as through art and music programs, career and technical education, and foreign languages; promote safety and health through interventions like mental health services and anti-bullying programs; and fund the effective use of technology.

On a national scale, the National Education Association (NEA) offers insight into potential impacts - even if the core functions are not eliminated, but moved to states or other parts of the federal government:

Title 1, which directs money to schools with high concentrations of students living in poverty and provides supports such as reading specialists and smaller class sizes, could be decimated if, as proposed in Project 2025, it is turned into block grants and handed over to individual states—without any sort of accountability or oversight. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, 180,000 teaching positions could be lost, affecting 2.8 million students in low-income communities.

Roughly 7.5 million students, or 15 percent of the student population, receive special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides $15 billion to support students with disabilities. This program could be transferred to another agency, making it significantly less likely that students with disabilities receive the services and support they need and deserve.

Many expect the White House to move the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice, a move that would severely weaken its ability to protect students against discrimination based on race, gender, and disability. The absence of strong federal oversight would leave millions of students vulnerable to discrimination, leading to lower levels of motivation and academic achievement and a higher risk of dropping out.

The Education Department also administers Pell Grants, federal student loans, and loan repayment and forgiveness programs. Thirty percent of U.S. college students rely on these federal loans to pay their tuition. Students and families could lose this support, leading to more students dropping out, fewer choices, and fewer options for families.

So, yes. It’s bad. Both funding and enforcement could be impacted. Protections for students with disabilities could vary by state. As noted in the data provided from Kentucky, districts with high concentrations of poverty stand to lose significant funds and support.

I keep reading that Trump and Elon need Congress to go along.

My guess: They don’t care. They are prepared to do as much damage as possible in service of the oligarchy and Project 2025. And they’re daring anyone to stop them.

So far, the Republican majority in Washington is either cheering them on or, at least, unwilling to stand in the way.

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