By Reagan Flowers, PhD
Founder, C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc.
In March, President Trump signed an executive order to initiate the process of downsizing the Department of Education, describing it as a step toward reducing administrative costs and enhancing student outcomes. While it would ultimately take an act of Congress to close the department, recent reporting by PBS and ProPublica suggests that significant changes are already underway to reshape the nation’s education system.
Shifting Roles and Uncertain Priorities
Current efforts within the Department of Education reflect a shift toward decentralization, returning greater authority to states and localities. While local control is an essential element of public education, a reduction in federal oversight could have far-reaching consequences for millions of students.
Federal leadership has historically played a crucial role in promoting educational equity, ensuring that funding, access, and accountability measures safeguard students regardless of their race, income, or ability. The federal government provided approximately 13.6% of the total funding for public elementary and secondary schools in fiscal year 2022, a share that is particularly critical for districts serving disadvantaged communities (Pew Research Center, 2025). Without consistent oversight and funding, the gap between well-resourced and under-resourced schools is likely to widen further.
Equity at Risk
For students from historically marginalized communities, including low-income families, students of color, girls, and those with disabilities, federal programs have often served as a safety net. Approximately 15% of all public school students (ages 3–21) received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the 2022–23 school year (NCES, 2024). These supports ensure access to quality instruction, up-to-date technology, and wraparound services that many schools depend on.
If federal responsibilities are transferred to states without consistent funding or accountability mechanisms, we risk undermining progress made in expanding opportunity. In 2016, districts with the highest concentrations of students of color received, on average, over $2,000 less per student than districts with fewer students of color (Ballard Brief, BYU, 2024). Public schools are required to serve every student who walks through their doors, while private and charter institutions can often be selective in their admissions and support services. That distinction is what makes public education foundational to American democracy.
Curriculum and Classroom Culture
The PBS report also highlights an increasing focus on curriculum direction at the federal level, particularly regarding how issues of race, gender, and identity are addressed in classrooms. Education should equip students to think critically, understand diverse perspectives, and engage in civic life. Restricting what teachers can discuss or how students can explore complex social topics risks narrowing, not strengthening, their understanding of the world.
Socioeconomic disparities also play a significant role in perpetuating achievement gaps. Socioeconomic factors account for between 34% and 64% of the Black-White achievement gap and between 51% and 77% of the Hispanic-White gap across various subjects (Fordham Institute, 2024). Without targeted interventions, these inequities could deepen as federal priorities shift.
The Path Forward
The discussion about the Department of Education’s future should not be about politics; it should be about people, especially the 50 million children who depend on public education to prepare them for college, careers, and citizenship.
Currently, over $6 billion in K–12 federal funding remains unallocated, much of it intended for after-school, summer learning, and English learner programs (Learning Policy Institute, 2024). Delays like these underscore the importance of federal coordination and accountability.
Regardless of the policy direction, our focus must remain on safeguarding equity, inclusion, and innovation in every classroom. Policymakers, educators, and communities must collaborate to ensure that federal, state, and local systems align toward a single goal: providing high-quality education for all students, not just those who can afford it.
Public education remains one of our nation’s greatest equalizers. As we rethink its structure, we must also reaffirm its promise.
