Former President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that if elected next month that he plans to dismantle the Department of Education.
“We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” he said at a rally in Wisconsin.
According to CNN, Trump expounded on his continued desire to decrease funding for school systems to reduce the conversations that he feels are inappropriate for America’s youth.
A funding decrease can threaten public schools and increase the unemployment rate, according to experts.
Trump’s idea for this initiative is to delegate responsibility to the states. He believes local governments can allocate resources to meet certain educational needs. This can allow states to encourage the banning of books, condense historical events and affect standardized testing.
If a state cannot meet the needs, it can affect grades K-12, and the overall eradication of the Department of Education will put student loans and financial aid programs at risk.
In recent years the department has provided public schools with about $28 billion a year. However, most of its funding comes from taxes. Initiatives such as Title I and the IDEA program were put in place to assist low-income families and children with disabilities, adhering to an inclusive environment that grants adequate learning spaces for all.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris commented on Trump’s idea in August at the Democratic National Convention, saying that she would not allow her opponent to undermine the rights of students and encourage young voters to consider their educational rights for the upcoming election.
The Democratic Party’s education policy includes early childhood education, advocacy of mental health and affordable higher education. If elected, Harris and her administration will focus on granting access to Pell Grants and free community college.
The party is also promoting DEI to close the achievement gap between marginalized groups such as persons of color and students with disabilities. The policy will also focus on increasing teacher pay and implementing training and professional development. They will also ensure enough funding for public education for all students to receive high-quality opportunities.
As the election nears, policies like this are crucial to live in an equitable society. While some agree with Trump’s ideology of relinquishing the government of its educational responsibility, others stand firm in preserving the integrity of education and its power.
Election Day will be November 5. Many states are conducting early voting as well as providing polling paces on college campuses for student voting. For more information about your respective party, visit https://justfacts.votesmart.org