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In the start of February, President Trump said he will close the Department of Education “very early” in his administration in order to place education back in the hands of individual states.
Among its many responsibilities, the national Department of Education decides policies for administrative rules in schools and colleges. On the state level, the Department of Education determines the curriculum in schools and decides the requirements for graduation. Oversight of schools happens on this level as well.
The Department of Education is a system that is built upon two levels: the national and state level. This department was founded in 1979 by former president Jimmy Carter. The department was made with the intent of distributing funds and information about schools nationwide. However, since the founding, student academic-achievement levels have been slowly declining.
“We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to have our youth hearing,” Trump says.
The Department of Education’s mission statement states that the department must promote student achievements as well as prepare and support students for their desired career. Students of all ages are ensured to have equal learning opportunities because of the department distributing funds to students nationwide. For example, this requires schools to abide by title XI. According to the California Department of Education title XI: “ensures that students and employees are treated fairly and equally.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the DOE funds over 12 million college students, (26% to a 2 year college and 74% of students that are attending a 4 year college).
President Donald Trump attempted to reduce funds and influence in the DOE in his first term, but was unsuccessful. However, Trump is trying again to eliminate the federal level altogether.
How will Trump attempt to eliminate the DOE? And can it even be done? In order to abolish the Department of Education, Trump would need congressional approval. If congress does not approve the elimination, then Trump would aim to at least reduce the department’s mission statement.
However, if congress approves the abolishment of the national level of the department of education, then those students would not be receiving the funding they have been receiving under the DOE.
Since Trump’s decision can’t be accurately predicted, only time can tell what his decision will be.