Educators process the potential impact to students of cuts to the Department of Education

  • “The DOE provides funding for students with disabilities through the Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Many states have limited funding and cut funding to school programs like those that support students with disabilities. Without the federal government requiring and also funding those programs… who knows what the States will choose in regards to funding and rights.” —Teacher in Texas
  • “Most schools will choose to stop providing special ed services out of lack of funding and oversight. If you don’t have the money to enforce the rules no one else is enforcing, you cut it. Those kids will get dumped into regular Ed without support making it harder for all kids in the class to learn. Making teaching even harder, pushing more teachers out of the profession…” —Teacher in New York
  • “You know a really cool, important thing that the Dept of Ed does? It enforces regulations and statues that protect students from discrimination. The DOE also funds programs for special education and provides resources and funds for students living in poverty.” —Teacher in Texas
  • “I agree that public ed needs an overhaul. What we teach needs relevance for the kids & for their future jobs. But just shutting the DOE is not the solution. It will create a crisis in public ed, which is part of the plan to destroy the system. In its place will be a system in which only the privileged get a decent education. And you’ll be at the mercy of those who profit off educating kids.” —Reading Teacher in Nevada
  • “How will the fall of the DoE actually impact my job? I’m a brand new teacher. I came in halfway through the school year during winter break. Is this going to impact my job on a day to day basis? I feel like I’m just getting my feet under me.” —Teacher in Arizona
    • “Affluent schools will be minimally impacted. However there is a very real chance that schools with high Free Reduced Lunch populations, ESL, and Title I services will be gutted unless your state covers it.” —Teacher in Alaska
    • “No one knows, we’re all in a prepare-for-the-worst-hope-for-the best mindset.” —Teacher in Florida
    • “It really depends on how your state DoE responds. … Some states will do better than others at supporting their students and teachers.” —Teacher in Georgia