President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month calling for significant cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, moving closer to his campaign promise to eliminate the department.
The order directs the secretary of education to dismantle the agency, although doing so likely requires congressional approval, as the department was established as a Cabinet-level agency in 1980.
As the department undergoes changes, questions arise: What does the Department of Education do? And how might the shake-up affect Durango School District 9-R?
9-R Superintendent Karen Cheser said it’s too early to know how local schools may be affected. State and local educators haven’t yet received guidance from the federal government, but Cheser said she’s monitoring funding developments closely. Any cuts or delays in federal funding would have “dire consequences” for students, she said.
She said the department plays a limited role in education policy and functions primarily as a funding and oversight agency.
Each year, the department distributes billions in federal aid to schools and colleges. While that funding makes up roughly 14% of public school budgets, Cheser said it is critical for supporting essential services and interventions.
Durango School District receives federal funds to support students with disabilities, those from low-income families, English language learners, and students who need help with reading and math Cheser said.
“Title I, for example, that’s a big part of our funding to help provide interventionists and tutors for students,” she said. “We get that funding before the school year starts based on our percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.”
Title I funds, distributed annually, provide supplemental financial assistance to schools serving children from low-income families to ensure a fair, equitable and quality education, and to help close achievement gaps.
Last year, the school district received $7 million in federal funds, Cheser said. By comparison, the district spent $67.85 million from its general fund during the 2023-24 school year, which covered core operating expenses such as salaries, utilities and materials.
Cheser said the administration has not yet provided school districts with information about potential changes to federal funding for the upcoming school year.
“I do have a bit of trepidation, because if there’s not a plan for how the funding flows through to school districts, this could be catastrophic for students,” she said.
Trump has proposed transferring large federal programs like Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to states, but has not outlined how that would be implemented.
In addition to funding, the department also functions as a watchdog agency. It oversees the Office for Civil Rights, which ensures equal access to education and enforces civil rights laws.
Each year, schools must submit compliance materials to the Office for Civil Rights demonstrating they meet federal standards, Cheser said. If families believe a school is not meeting the needs of a student with disabilities or learning challenges, they can file a complaint, which may prompt a federal investigation.
She said Durango School District spends more than it receives in federal funding to support student success, but that is not the case for all school districts.
“The Office for Civil Rights is in place because there may be other school districts or schools across the country who might not be providing the adequate materials and resources and supports for those students,” she said. “And so the federal government has had this incredible responsibility to make sure that those students are getting everything they need.”
There have been rumblings in the Trump administration about moving some of the office’s work to the Department of Justice. Critics warn that such a move could leave many vulnerable students left behind.
“If I was a parent, I would probably be asking a lot of questions about who’s going to have the oversight now to make sure school districts are following the law,” Cheser said.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
