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On Thursday, March 20th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE)
Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
According to an Associated Press article, President Trump argued that the DOE hasn’t improved any outcomes for students in the USA, and that it isn’t necessary since states and local districts are the primary overseers of education. The DOE was established in 1979 and has been a source of tension among conservatives since.
Among claims made by President Trump, he cites that the DOE is wasteful, and is responsible for spreading “woke” programs in support of DEI and transgender students. However, the DOE has been primarily responsible for enforcing discrimination laws and distributing aid to schools with low-income or disabled students. The Associated Press notes that federal funding makes up roughly 14% of public school budgets, a relatively small amount.
While the executive order has raised many concerns about the future of education in America, Trump would need congressional approval to dismantle the DOE entirely. Republicans in Congress are in support of the order, but they face heavy scrutiny from Democrats, who oppose it. Meanwhile, it’s important to focus on the current existence of the DOE and what you can do to better prepare yourself educationally.
Aaron Schwartz / Sipa USA via AP
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