After President Donald Trump’s March executive order calling for the closing of the U.S. Department of Education, students and teachers across the country are apprehensive about the future of education. Since the order, the government has made major cuts and shifts to the DoE, such as moving responsibilities to other agencies and limiting student loans.
The DoE is primarily responsible for administering federal financial aid to college students with demonstrated need, in addition to overseeing student loan programs, enforcing civil rights laws, collecting data and funding research and innovation. States and local districts, however, are responsible for setting curricula.
Since its establishment in 1979, the department’s role has been a subject of debate over whether or not the federal government should be involved in educational operations. The Trump administration stated in their executive order that education policy should be returned to the states and federal programs and dollars have failed students and families. Organizations such as the National Education Association argue that the dismantling is detrimental to students, especially low-income students who rely on educational support that the department provides…