The Death of the Department of Education will mean the Death of our Nation as we know it

 

Donald Trump plans on canning the Department of Education and "taking it to the states". Is this all his plan for saving federal dollars? If so, it's a costly national mistake.

Let's look at what the Department of Education brings to the table...and all of these ideas and thoughts are from the top of my head after a conversation with my sister, a public school teacher in a state with lots of poverty. Lots of poverty, just like the entire southeastern part of our country: Trump Country.

The Department of Education provides for breakfasts and lunches for some ridiculously large number of children, many of whom get the majority of their caloric intake at school. What will those children eat? What will they eat?

The Department of Education provides for schools, school buses, and staff in rural parts of the country. Often the only schools around for miles. Where will these children go to school after the schools have to close down due to an inability to fiscally keep them open? Who can afford private/parochial schools or who can homeschool?
MANY SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.

The Department of Education provides for Pre-K programs. Will children have to wait until they are 5 or 6 before getting services? What about reading and writing and colors and numbers? If the students even live in counties that can afford to keep their schools open.

The Department of Education provides for after school programs. What about those children whose parents work and need this after school care? People will literally be unable to work if they have children of school age. Unemployment and underemployment will become a national problem again. Increasing poverty. A vicious circle.

The Department of Education provides for extra curricular programming that meets after school hours? None will exist.

The Department of Education provides for 405 plans and for Individual Education Programs, IEPs, for students who need a little extra so that they can thrive in schools. 

The Department of Education provides for special programming during the day. Where will children get the extra services and care that they need? How many children will be left behind? What about the social workers, psychologists, speech and hearing coaches, nurses, mental health, wellness services, and other specialists providing care to our children? What will happen to these kids when they are even further left behind?

The Department of Education provides FAFSA services so that students with financial need can access grants and loans for college. That would be GONE.

The Department of Education ensures equal access to education for homeless children under the McKinney-Vento Act. Yes, children with no home can get services at school without barriers. And some economically disadvantaged students can find funds through this act.

The Department of Education provides for teacher education and continuing education hours, parental training programs, ESL or English as a Second Language programs, school engagement and attendance programs, Title IX programming and services, disability programs, special needs programming and activities, literacy programs, Parent/Teacher events, sports, clubs, and so much more. GONE.

"Taking it to the states" indeed.
Most states will never be able to provide needed services to all of their students.

The Department of Education is ESSENTIAL.

Your Thoughts?