by Tabitha Dell’Angelo

The U.S. Department of Education has been a focal point of debate, with President Trump advocating for its elimination, arguing that it misuses taxpayer money and contributes to ideological influence in schools. However, many people misunderstand its role in K-12 education.

The department does not dictate school curricula—that responsibility lies with state and local authorities. It also does not provide the majority of school funding, as most resources come from state and local governments. But, that does not mean that it is not important. It’s function in administering federal education programs and funding is integral to student success.

Key offices within the department oversee specific aspects of K-12 education. These include the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, which supports state and district policies; the Office of English Language Acquisition, aiding English learners; and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which helps students with disabilities. Other offices focus on civil rights enforcement, educational research, and career and technical education.

The department manages a nearly $80 billion budget, mainly through grants. The largest K-12 programs are Title I, which provides $18.4 billion for schools with high numbers of low-income students, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a $14.2 billion program funding special education. Additional grants, such as Perkins V, Title II, and Title III, support career education, teacher training, and multilingual learners.

The department also administers emergency funding, such as the $190 billion distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic to help schools recover. Despite its role, federal funding accounts for only 10.6% of total public school spending.

Beyond K-12 education, the department oversees higher education programs like federal student loans, the Pell Grant for low-income college students, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Other major education programs, such as Head Start and school meal programs, fall under different federal agencies.

Those who want to do away with the Department of Education may say that all of those functions can just go to the states. And, maybe they can. However, I can’t help but wonder if decentralizing federal programs to be handled by individual states is not creating more inefficiency when the GOP is claiming they want to be more efficient.

Tabitha Dell'Angelo, Ph.D. (she/her)
Interim Dean, School of Education
Professor, Urban Education
The College of New Jersey