Alteration of Federal Government's Involvement in Educational Institutions by Trump
The Trump administration has marked a significant chapter in the long-standing debate over the federal government's role in public education. While the administration's policies have been met with resistance and legal challenges, they have undeniably shifted the landscape of education in the United States.
The federal government typically accounts for 8% to 10% of spending on public K-12 education in a typical year. However, states and districts accepting federal funding have to agree to a growing list of conditions, including putting up matching funds, ensuring equal athletic opportunities, testing students annually, and providing special education services regardless of the cost.
The Trump administration has used this leverage to add its own conditions to funding, trying to eradicate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and ban transgender athletes from school sports. This approach has led to investigations into districts, state education departments, and athletic associations.
One such instance occurred in the Massapequa School District, where the administration supported the district's refusal to give up its "Chiefs" logo, calling it a top priority and warning of potential legal action against New York State's ban on Native American-themed mascots without local tribal consent. The U.S. Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation, not into the Massapequa district but into New York's state education agency.
The historical back-and-forth between the three branches of government and the states has led to a major expansion of the federal role in education, followed by actions to contain it. The Obama administration, for instance, used an infusion of one-time federal education funds along with waivers from No Child Left Behind's requirements to push its own school improvement agenda, leading to bipartisan backlash.
The No Child Left Behind Act, passed under President George W. Bush, required annual state testing, set ambitious proficiency goals in math and reading, and prescribed penalties for schools that continually fell short. The Every Student Succeeds Act, passed later, returned more authority to the states and reined in the education secretary's power—while retaining annual testing requirements.
Local and state education leaders have been forced to keep the federal government top of mind when making decisions due to the Trump administration's intervention. The Republican-controlled Congress has generally been hesitant to challenge the administration, but the Senate's appropriations committee rejected the president's proposed budget cuts to education programs and resisted efforts to shrink the Education Department and move its functions to other agencies.
It's still unclear what the federal role in education will look like after the Trump administration, but some elements of his aggressive intervention could stick while a subsequent president reverses others. It's certain, however, that the Trump administration has opened the doors to a more muscular and politically motivated form of federal involvement in schools, potentially forcing districts to rethink how they pay for basic services going forward.
Schools could learn they won't receive long-expected federal funds due to a spontaneous freeze, or discover a previously awarded grant has suddenly been terminated. In such cases, districts may find themselves facing tough decisions about how to maintain essential services.
Despite these challenges, no state has declined the funding and relieved themselves of federally imposed requirements and conditions. The Trump administration's policies have drawn more than 50 education-related lawsuits that have often slowed or stopped his agenda.
In conclusion, the Trump administration's impact on education has been significant, with a more politically motivated form of federal involvement in schools. While the future of the federal role in education remains uncertain, it's clear that the Trump administration's policies have forced districts to keep a close eye on federal funding and conditions.
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