How would the dismantling of the Department of Education impact Massachusetts schools?
CBS News reports that President Trump is expected to issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start the process of dissolving the Education Department, although the timing of such a move is unclear and Mr. Trump confirmed Thursday that he still wants to "bring the schools back to the states."
Most school funding comes from state and local budgets, but the Department of Education provides about 8% of funding nationwide.
Still, that 8% covers critical funds, Massachusetts educators tell WBZ.
"If we were to somehow lose that funding, you know, it would be a pretty deep impact for us," said Watertown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Deanne Galdston.
Galdston explained that federal funding covers about 16% of the non-salary expense budget for the city, and pays for academic programs for kids with disabilities, Title I programs for low-income families, and civil rights initiatives.
"Programs to help poor students with the support they need to succeed, given the disadvantaged backgrounds they come from" could be impacted, according to Max Page, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
Gov. Maura Healey outraged
Governor Maura Healey was outraged at the news Thursday. "What are parents going to do? What are families going to do?" she exclaimed. When asked how this would impact Massachusetts schools, she said, "Is your child on an IEP? (Individualized Education Program) Does your child have a disability? The services that your family gets for your child in Massachusetts go away."
They would "go away," she said, because the state doesn't have the money to make up for the lost federal funds. "We can't begin to make up for those cuts, and it breaks my heart. When I think about little kids, you know who are going to be without access to those services," Healey said.
DOE funding doesn't only impact little kids, but also provides funding for college scholarships for low-income students. Healey said the potential dismantling of the Department would particularly sting in a state with such a rich academic history. "I'm a governor of the state that had the first school in the country and the first college in the country," she said.
WBZ reached out to the Mass GOP for a comment but did not receive a reply.
