Education Department Dismantling: What You Need to Know
The US Education Department is undergoing significant changes, with several of its main offices being reassigned to other federal agencies. This move is seen as a step towards fulfilling President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to close the department entirely. The changes aim to redistribute the department’s responsibilities, including funding for schools and colleges, federal student loans, and support for students with disabilities.
Impact on Funding for Schools and Colleges
While the Education Department currently serves as a conduit for billions of dollars in federal aid to state and local education agencies, this funding will continue to be awarded as allocated by Congress. However, the Department of Labor will oversee some of the largest federal funding streams, including Title I money for schools serving low-income communities. The Health and Human Services Department will take charge of a grant program for parents attending college, while the State Department will fund foreign language programs, and the Interior Department will oversee programs supporting Native American education.
Federal Student Loans and Support
The Education Department’s management of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio will remain largely unaffected, with Pell Grants and federal loans continuing to be disbursed. The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) website will remain open, and the department will continue to handle support for navigating the form. Accreditation, which allows colleges to accept students’ federal financial aid, will also remain under the Education Department’s oversight.
Support for Students with Disabilities
The Education Department will continue to distribute money to schools to provide educational support for students with disabilities, although this function may be reassigned to the Department of Health and Human Services in the future. The department will also continue to oversee investigations into schools and universities alleged to have violated disability rights law, as well as other civil rights violations. However, the Office for Civil Rights has operated with a significantly reduced staff since mass layoffs in March, raising concerns about its ability to address a backlog of complaints.
According to the department’s own data, there has been a decline in resolving civil rights cases, while new complaints from families have increased. The changes to the Education Department’s structure and responsibilities may have significant implications for rural and low-income students, as well as those with disabilities, who rely heavily on federal education support.
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