During a recent interview with Elon Musk, former President Donald Trump reiterated his plans to shut down the U.S. Department of Education and shift educational responsibilities entirely to the states. While Trump acknowledged that this move might create disparities, he argued it could also force states to improve their educational systems.
For decades, the 157-year-old cabinet-level department that sets national policies and standards for public schools has been targeted by conservative Republicans, from former President Ronald Reagan to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who’ve argued that education should be managed at the state and local levels without federal intervention.
But for Black K-12 students — who make up 15% of the nation’s K-12 public school enrollment and disproportionately attend underfunded schools — the Department of Education is a crucial resource. Not only does it provide support and resources that may not be available at the state level, it helps ensure educational equity for students in marginalized groups.
For example, in April 2022, the DOE released an equity action plan as a part of the White House’s efforts to level the playing field for schools and students in underserved communities. Key to the plan: ensuring the equitable distribution of the American Rescue Plan’s $130 billion funding for K-12 students
The equity action plan was made possible through data collection by the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights, which helps the department monitor and address inequalities. The OCR has since beefed up its efforts to gather information from all public schools each year to better identify and target disparities affecting students’ academic and social development.
DOE’s Impact On Black K-12 Students
The Department of Education (DOE) is actively working to address educational disparities through specific policies and initiatives. This includes plans to tackle the disproportionately high levels of school discipline for Black students, reverse funding inequities for majority-minority schools, and provide support to schools lacking access to teachers and school counselors.
Additionally, the DOE is helping schools develop policies that ensure equity and access for all students, including affirmative action, special education, and school discipline.
What would a world without the Department of Education look like?
U.S. DOE Elimination Will Further Exacerbate Disparities for Black Students
One of the Department of Education’s most critical roles is enforcing civil rights laws through its Office for Civil Rights. This office investigates complaints and ensures that schools do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.
For Black students, who often face systemic racism and discrimination in educational settings, the OCR is a critical resource. Without national enforcement of civil rights, the protection of Black and other marginalized students would weaken, leaving them more vulnerable to discrimination.
The DOE also manages Title I funding, designed to support schools with high numbers of low-income students. Many Black students attend Title I schools, which rely heavily on this federal funding to provide essential services: tutoring, after-school programs, and specialized support staff. The elimination of the DOE could jeopardize this funding, potentially leading to larger class sizes, reduced educational resources, and diminished opportunities for Black students to succeed.
The DOE’s data collection program is also essential for understanding and addressing educational disparities, particularly for Black students. If the department were eliminated, there would likely be a significant gap in the availability of reliable data, making it more challenging to identify and address the specific needs of Black students.
Where Do We Go From Here?
While Trump seeks to reduce federal influence over education, Vice President Kamala Harris has called for significant funding increases in Title I funds and Head Start programs that help close the Black-white education gap.
Moreover, organizations like the Brookings Institution have warned that proposals like Project 2025, which includes dismantling the DOE, could harm civil rights protections and significantly reduce support for Title I schools, leading to deterioration in educational equity nationwide. The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit education policy center, also reports that eliminating federal oversight of public education would make it harder for underfunded schools, which disproportionately serve Black students, to provide quality education.
Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education (DOE) raises serious concerns about the future of education for Black K-12 students. The department plays a crucial role in enforcing civil rights, providing funding, and collecting data to ensure educational equity. Its elimination could hamper civil rights enforcement for Black and other marginalized students, reduce data collection on inequalities, cut off funding for Title I schools, and hinder efforts to close achievement gaps.
