Education News for 2/12/2025
Thetimes.com reports
President Donald Trump is preparing to issue an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education (DoE), seeking to shift control of education from the federal level to individual states. He has nominated Linda McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and former head of the Small Business Administration, as the Secretary of Education, tasking her with overseeing the department’s closure.
The DoE, established in 1979, employs approximately 4,400 individuals and manages a $79 billion annual budget. Its responsibilities include distributing federal funds, managing student loans, and setting accountability standards. Dismantling the department would require a two-step approach: issuing an executive order to initiate the process, followed by seeking congressional approval to formally abolish it. However, achieving the necessary super-majority in the Senate poses a significant challenge.
If successful, this move could significantly impact federal funding for education, particularly programs supporting low-income students, such as Title I. Critics argue that reducing federal involvement may lead to disparities in educational quality across states and potentially undermine support for vulnerable student populations.
This initiative aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda to decentralize federal authority and promote parental choice in education. However, it is expected to face substantial legal and political challenges, given the department’s role in ensuring equal access to quality education nationwide.
OTHER STORIES
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Appointment of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and former head of the Small Business Administration, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Education. Her primary task is to oversee the dismantling of the department, aligning with the administration’s decentralization goals.
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Significant Budget Cuts to Education Research: Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has terminated nearly $1 billion in contracts for the Institute of Education Sciences, effectively dismantling this major funder of education research. Critics argue that these cuts will harm student learning and development.
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Policy Changes Affecting Transgender Athletes: The Department of Education has requested that the NCAA and high school sports organizations revoke titles and records held by transgender athletes, aligning with the administration’s new policy banning transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports.
State Updates (Georgia):
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Potential Impact of Federal Spending Cuts: Georgia’s education system could face significant challenges if proposed federal spending cuts are implemented. State lawmakers may need to find solutions to address potential funding shortfalls, which could affect various educational programs and services.
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Expansion of School Voucher Eligibility: A new interpretation by the Georgia Education Savings Authority has expanded eligibility for a voucher program, potentially allowing hundreds of thousands of students to receive aid for private schooling or homeschooling. This broad eligibility could create financial pressure to raise the program’s spending cap.
