Could Trump close Education Department?
By: Zachary Schermele
USA Today
WASHINGTON - On the campaign trial, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly vowed to "close" the U.S. Department of Education. But fulfilling that promise is easier said than done.
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The agency became a Cabinet-level department in 1979 and has several thousand employees. It provides billions of dollars each year to low-income public schools and billions more to help millions of American pay for college.
..... The controversial conservative blue-print Project 2025 outlines how Education Department offices could be split up and passed off to other federal agencies. It's not clear whether Trump agrees with those specifics, and he has disavowed Project 2025. He hasn't yet put forth a more detailed plan of his own.
..... Abolishing the department would require an act of Congress.
Though the GOP will likely have a majority in both chambers, the 60-vote threshold requires to pass legislation in the Senate would pose a big obstacle to Trump following through on his promise, experts say. It would likely require the support of Democrats, who vehemently oppose the idea.
..... And though many congressional Republicans have echoed Trump's vow, the president-elect doesn't have 100% buy-in form his side. Some in the GOP have argued that the Education Department could play a pivotal role in enacting Trump's policy agenda.
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The small but powerful agency has two key roles.
..... First, it makes sure K-12 schools comply with important federal laws.
..... Trump has said education policy in the U.S. should be transferred "back to the states." Policy in K-12 schools, however, is already handled largely at the state and local level. Public schools are primary controlled by state and local boards and get most of their funding through allocation from state legislatures and local sources, typically in the form of property taxes.
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The federal government does provide roughly one-tenth of public school funding - a small but significant piece of their budgets. To get that money, schools must follow federal laws. That's a place where the Education Department comes in. It writes regulations that help clarify and implement laws written by Congress. Among many other things, they protect students and teachers from discrimination and ensure that students with disabilities are taught appropriately. Second. the Education Department oversees the nation's colleges and universities, nearly all of which receive some federal funding.
..... Any college student who has filled out the Free Application for Federal Student aid has to interact with the Education Department, which administers the form. The federal Pell Grant, which is free money the government gives to low-income students to pay for college, also is overseen by the department - as is the country's nearly 42 trillion federal student loan portfolio.
..... In short, the agency plays a huge role in ensuring students around the U.S. can afford a degree. Much of the money is contingent upon colleges proving that they can provide students their money's worth.