Reactions from local and area school boards, as well as state agencies like the Kansas State Department of Education and Kansas Association of School Boards, are pending as President Trump appears set to sign an executive order to dismantle the US Department of Education.
This move comes at a time when the department has already announced significant reductions. Here’s ABC News reporter Andrea Fujii.
Critics say this will harm financial assistance programs and grants, causing negative impacts for high-need students.
Congressional approval is needed to close the department. Republicans have majorities in both the House and Senate. This effort needs 60 yes votes in the Senate to abolish the agency.
The administration says plans to continue “uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits,” but it hasn’t said how it plans to accomplish that goal. A statement from the department says it plans to “continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.” Concrete details on those processes have not been announced.
