Founding Partner
The Donovan Group
As education leaders across the country are well aware, there have been a series of changes at the federal level since the new administration took office in late January. These changes have largely come in the form of executive actions that have affected public schools and the students they serve in various ways.
On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and transfer educational authority back to the states. While there are a number of legal challenges that may delay the implementation of this order, it’s possible that a full or partial dismantling of the federal agency is on the horizon.
With this issue front and center in the news, parents and families, teachers and staff, students, and community members are likely to have a lot of questions about what this all means and how it will affect their local schools. We recommend remaining apolitical, sticking to the facts, and keeping the focus on supporting and protecting students.
Below are some key messages and information you may want to share with your community regarding this issue:
- If USED is indeed dismantled or substantially reduced, programs that have been historically funded by the federal government would need to be funded through state or local taxpayer dollars. Some of these programs include special education and Title I assistance for students who are economically disadvantaged.
- Federal funding represents a relatively small percentage of the district’s budget. (Note: Consider sharing what percentage of your district’s revenue comes from federal funds, versus state and local funding.)
- At the same time, any reduction in federal funding would have a negative impact on a number of important programs and services in our district.
- The vast majority of education funds and policy are already controlled at the state and local level. However, the federal government oversees some key functions, including student loans, support for students with disabilities, academic research, and civil rights enforcement in schools.
- Completely eliminating USED would require approval from Congress. It is uncertain if such a measure would pass both the House of Representatives and Senate.
- School district leadership is closely monitoring the latest updates regarding USED and is planning accordingly.
- As always, our focus is on our students and making sure they have the opportunities they need to thrive.
This is a developing situation, and it’s not yet clear how far the executive order will go and what the future of USED looks like. Regardless of how this issue plays out in the courts, it will be important for education leaders to be prepared to communicate and keep their school communities informed.
Joe Donovan is the founding partner of the Donovan Group, an award-winning school district communication, marketing, and public relations firm that focuses exclusively on public education. The Donovan Group provides 24/7 crisis communications services to MASA members free of charge. Learn more at www.mnasa.org/crisis-communication-services.