Without the US Department of Education New Hampshire families will struggle

March 20th, 2025

With the news of President Trump’s Executive Order and the proposed elimination of the US Department of Education (ED), it is important to reflect on what it will mean for New Hampshire students, families, and communities.

What is happening?

The Associated Press reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, advancing a campaign promise to eliminate an agency that’s been a longtime target of conservatives.

Trump has derided the Education Department as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979.

A White House fact sheet said the order would direct Secretary Linda McMahon “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

Why does it matter?

“Public education is the great equalizer in a democratic society.”

-Horace Mann

The reality is, income and educational attainment are increasingly inextricably linked. Today, two out of three jobs demand a minimum of some education beyond high school – compared to the reverse, just fifty years ago. Educational attainment is now critical to career and, therefore, income advancement. The combination of overall income and educational attainment levels in a community play critical roles in that community’s health and economic trajectory – and, the overall long-term economic vitality of our state as a whole.

In New Hampshire, it is public schools that ensure ALL of our students become contributing, productive members of society. They do that by working in partnership with students, families, and their local communities as well as both the state and U.S. Department of Education.

Although much of the future remains uncertain, we know that the Executive Order and the proposed elimination of the US Department of Education (ED) will be acutely felt across the Granite State.

Most schools across the state offer Title 1 programming in partnership with ED. It is through Title 1 that schools hire staff, purchase instructional materials, and engage families in support of their children’s learning. New Hampshire currently receives over $51 million in federal funding for this work - It is at risk.

As a Kindergartner in 2020, Joey struggled to build strong, early reading skills. He needed additional, one to one support from a Title 1 reading specialist. Through that targeted support, Joey’s reading skills have grown and he is now fully proficient in English Language Arts.

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is the law that guarantees free, appropriate public education for children with disabilities across the country. ED provides nearly $62 million per year for staff, curriculum, and equipment as well as training and support for best practices in the classroom to New Hampshire schools - It is at risk.

Max has Muscular Dystrophy. As a result, he has struggled with his fine motor skills. Working with his school’s Occupational Therapist, Max has improved his grasp and his handwriting. He is able to participate fully in his lessons and is thriving in the classroom.

ED monitors and supports the implementation of Homeless Education. New Hampshire schools receive $322,500 to help address the unique challenges of homelessness in the state by providing support for staff and services. There are 3,607 homeless students in New Hampshire.

As a seasonal worker in the Lakes Region, Julia’s mom has struggled to find and keep stable housing. With the support of the Homeless Liaison at her school, Julia was able to stay and finish out her senior year with all of the support and accommodations she needed.

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is offered by ED. Through this program, New Hampshire schools receive $6.5 million to provide academic enrichment, tutoring, and support to students and their families. The funds provide staff, curriculum, and materials - It is at risk.

Jen attends a school-based afterschool program. This low-cost program ensures that she is safe and cared for until her parents get out of work. It also provides her access to a tutor to strengthen her math skills and an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with peers.

The future of the U.S. Department of Education is uncertain. What is not in doubt is the important role it plays in ensuring ALL of our students become contributing, productive members of society.

What is the U.S. Department of Education?

The following is an excerpt from the US Department of Education's website:

Although the Department is a relative newcomer among Cabinet-level agencies, its origins go back to 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first Department of Education. Due to concern that the Department would exercise too much control over local schools, the new Department was demoted to an Office of Education in 1868.

Beginning in the 1950s, political and social changes resulted in expanded federal funding for education. The successful launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik in 1957 spurred nationwide concern that led to increased aid for science education programs. In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" called for the creation of additional programs to improve education for poor students at all levels—early childhood through postsecondary. This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English speaking students gain equal access to education. In October 1979, Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88). Created by combining offices from several federal agencies, the Department began operations in May 1980 with a mission to:

Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual;
Supplement and complement the efforts of states, the local school systems and other instrumentalities of the states, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of education;
Encourage the increased involvement of the public, parents, and students in Federal education programs;
Promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through Federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information;
Improve the coordination of Federal education programs;
Improve the management of Federal education activities; and
Increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public.

One final note: while ED's programs and responsibilities have grown substantially over the years, the Department itself has not. In fact, the Department has the smallest staff of the 15 Cabinet agencies, even though its discretionary budget alone is the third largest, behind only the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, the Department provides over $150 billion in new and consolidated student loans annually.

Additional resources:

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