Trumps education cuts are a course correction, right?

Photo by Taylor Flowe from Unsplash

On June 30 the Trump administration announced that it would withhold nearly $7 billion in congressionally-appropriated federal funding earmarked for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, teacher training and other services. Officials at the US Department of Education offered no timeline for when, or if, the money would be released. They simply indicated that all grants would be subjected to an internal review process to ensure that “taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president's priorities.” The news further complicates local school districts' efforts to finalize budgets for the 2025-2026 school year. Although 86% of the funding for K-12 education flows from state and local governments, districts rely on federal funding to provide essential programs that support low income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. 

This move is just the latest in a long series of attacks on public education inflicted by the Trump Administration, and it is one more step in a much grander plan to dismantle the US Department of Education. 

Why does it matter? Isn’t this endeavor simply a course correction? Afterall, state and local governments have the constitutional authority to decide matters involving education. Furthermore, isn’t Trump’s plan a reasonable response to the lack of improvement in students’ math and reading scores? Do we really want to invest billions of federal dollars in underperforming K-12 schools? And aren’t teachers indoctrinating “children with radical, anti-American ideologies” and “deliberately blocking parental oversight”? Why aren’t they more focused on providing a rigorous education that inspires “patriotic admiration” and promotes critical thinking? 

Think about this for a minute. As an educator with 23 years of experience, allow me to provide some valuable insight. Firstly, state and local governments are STILL the principal decision-makers when it comes to public education. They determine the schools’ curriculum, enforce graduation requirements, allocate the bulk of districts’ funding, assess student learning, and control teacher certification requirements. Do you know who elects the members of local school boards and state legislatures? You do. Yes, YOU. Not federal-level bureaucrats. The US Department of Education does not interfere with your local influence, but it DOES provide the resources and funding you need to meet the needs of your community. 

Secondly, students’ test scores in math and reading have stagnated, but this reality should not result in the removal of federal funding; rather, it should prompt a re-evaluation of educational programs, an investigation into new challenges facing public education, and an increase in federal funding – yes, an increase! Why? Because 21st century schools are committed to supporting students, implementing innovative programs, and preparing the next generation of citizens for a globally competitive workforce, and they are doing this important work while mitigating the effects of a global pandemic, unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression among students, a widespread teacher shortage, and growing absenteeism. If this country values its future, the preservation of its democracy, and its position as a global superpower, it must also prioritize public education. 

Thirdly, parents still leverage significant influence over their children’s education by voting in local elections, attending school board meetings, and volunteering in classrooms. This dynamic collaboration between parents and school leaders must continue; the success of public education depends on it. 

Finally, with regard to allegations of indoctrination, educators remain committed to supporting students, securing a safe learning environment, providing rigorous educational opportunities, and empowering the next generation with the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world. We are attempting to accomplish all of this while also huddling in classrooms during active shooter drills, responding to a mental health crisis impacting our nation’s youth, and pivoting to online instruction when a global pandemic reminds us that, despite the Trump administration’s short-sighted, isolationist “America First” policies, our world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. 

We simply ask that the communities we serve partner with us in our endeavor, and that our local, state AND federal governments invest in our nation’s future by safeguarding– NOT cutting– funding for K-12 public education. A nation that does not invest strategically, steadfastly, and generously in its education system will not survive long-term. Its democracy requires voters to think critically. Its economy requires entrepreneurs to innovate continuously. Its society requires citizens to work collaboratively, united in a shared commitment to core values. Schools need your help in this fight. We cannot do it alone.

Amy Perkins

Experienced Teacher

Ambassador, Fulbright-Hays Programs

Consultant, University of Michigan International Institute