By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
As you are aware, Donald Trump was recently elected President of the United States,
and he takes the oath of office on January 20, 2025. He has not kept it a secret that he
wants to dismantle the US Department of Education (ED), along with several other
federal government agencies. Project 2025, which was written by mostly former Trump
staffers and published by the Heritage Foundation, details the plan to abolish ED. The
National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union, says “Project 2025
would devastate public education.”
We cannot let that happen. ED’s mandate is to ensure that all students get a good
education, including students with disabilities and students from underserved
communities. And, while the goal that every student receives an equal education has
not fully come to fruition, dismantling the Department and allowing each state to
implement education policies and funding as they see fit will move us further from that
goal. While schools are generally run by the states, ED ensures that basic standards
exist across the country and tries to make sure that every student is treated fairly,
regardless of disability, race, gender, or any other protective class.
Treating Students with Disabilities Fairly
ED enforces laws that help students with disabilities. Through laws like the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures that students with disabilities are
provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), ED plays an important role in
evening the playing field between special education and general education students.
Under IDEA, students with disabilities are given an Individualized Education Program
(IEP). An IEP is a plan made for each individual student that explains the extra support
that particular student needs, such as extra time on tests or a notetaker in class.
“Special education students have unique learning needs, which might be because of
physical, learning, emotional, or developmental disabilities. ED ensures that these
students receive the support they need to succeed in school.”
Students with disabilities often get reasonable accommodations to help them thrive in
the least restrictive environment. These accommodations can include things like
extended time on tests, larger print, seating arrangements to reduce distractions,
access to special technology, and graphic organizers, among others. These
accommodations are narrowly tailored to meet each student’s needs, so that students
can fully participate in their education, have equal access to learning, and reach their
educational goals.
Funding Education for Marginalized Communities
One of ED’s main jobs is to fund schools. This money is often given to schools that
need extra help, like those in low-income areas where students might not have as many
resources, such as new textbooks or technology. The Department also supports special
education by giving extra funds to schools for special education students. By providing
this funding, ED tries to ensure that special education students can get the support they
need no matter where they live. Without this funding, it might be hard for schools to
provide all the services needed to support students with disabilities and some schools
might just decide they don’t want to fund special education. ED attempts to give every
student a fair chance at succeeding after the student finishes school. Through its
support, students with disabilities can learn, grow, and achieve their dreams, just like
any other student.
Preparing Students for the Future
ED helps students prepare for life after high school by providing resources for college
and career training. Its financial aid programs help students pay for college. If The
Department were abolished, these programs would likely disappear, which would make
it more difficult for students to afford college or find the right career training. This
could mean fewer students are able to achieve their dreams of going to college or
getting a good job, which would hurt all students, including special education students.
The Department doesn’t just focus on helping special education students while they are
in school. It also helps prepare them for life after high school. Just like their general
education peers, many special education students want to go to college, find a job, or
learn a trade. ED runs programs that support students as they transition from school to
adulthood.
Eliminating the US Department of Education is a Bad Idea
Eliminating ED is a bad idea that would likely create more problems for students,
especially those in need of extra support. ED funds schools, supports special education,
tries to ensure equality in education, helps improve schools across the country, and
prepares students for success after they finish school.
If the Department were eliminated, students with disabilities might lose all of the
protections and resources that IDEA provides. This could mean fewer services, less
funding, and fewer trained teachers to support students with special needs, if they are
not eliminated altogether. Without these resources, many students with disabilities could
struggle to keep up in school, making it harder for them to succeed and reach their full
potential.
Why Keeping the Department of Education Matters
The U.S. Department of Education helps make sure that every student has the chance
to succeed, no matter what challenges they face. Eliminating ED would take this
support away, which could lead to more inequality, fewer resources for underserved
populations, and a tougher path to success for many students. Keeping the Department
of Education is important to ensure that all students have the best opportunity to learn,
grow, and reach their dreams.
https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/how-project-2025-would-devastate-public-education
