Potential Elimination of U.S. Department of Education Raises Concerns
The initiative known as Project 2025 proposes the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, a decision that could significantly affect public school funding on a national scale. The move might have the most pronounced impact on students with special needs and those from low-income families, who currently benefit from additional federal program funds. Additionally, this could decrease the federal oversight on how states utilize any federal funds they receive.
For such a significant change to occur, Congress would need to approve the dismantling of the department. However, achieving this would require a bipartisan agreement, which is currently seen as unlikely due to the widespread support among Congress members for federal education oversight and funding.
Analyzing the state funding reports, it’s evident that federal funds play a crucial role in local education budgets. For instance, Houston ISD relies on federal money for nearly 10% of its revenue, translating to $189 million out of its approximately $2 billion budget.
Comparatively, for the 2023-2024 school year, Texas public schools are expected to receive 7%, or about $4 billion, of their $60.4 billion total operating revenue from federal funds. This figure is a decrease from the 20% of $14 billion reported during the 2022-2023 school year, which was influenced by federal relief funds distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should the department be abolished, some of its roles might be assigned to other federal entities, while others might be handed over to states or possibly discontinued. This shift could lead to disparities in educational policies and accountability measures across different states.
