As the Trump administration faces turmoil, one federal department is executing its agenda with precision. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, a staunch proponent of school vouchers, has made her disdain for public education clear, advocating for the privatization of education. Now, she is following through on her commitment to diminish public schooling, reduce federal involvement in education, and promote school choice.
This week, President Trump and Secretary DeVos are set to unveil next year’s troubling education budget. This plan proposes cutting $10.6 billion from educational programs that primarily assist the most vulnerable students—representing a significant 13.6% of the total education budget. In stark contrast, $1.4 billion will be redirected towards school choice initiatives.
A substantial sum of approximately $1 billion is earmarked for the new Furthering Options for Children to Unlock Success (FOCUS) grant program, which will only benefit school districts that offer school choice options. The Center for American Progress has criticized such initiatives as “Robin Hood in reverse,” suggesting they divert resources away from high-poverty districts to wealthier ones.
Who Stands to Gain?
- School Vouchers: The budget includes increased funding for voucher programs that would enable low-income students to attend private or religious institutions.
- Charter Schools: An additional $500 million is allocated for charter schools, which is a 50% increase over current funding.
- DeVos’s Security: The proposal also seeks $158 million for salaries for her staff, despite an overall reduction in Department of Education personnel. While previous Secretaries utilized the department’s security detail, DeVos is under the protection of U.S. Marshals, costing an extra $1 million per month.
Who Will Suffer?
Numerous programs aimed at supporting students across all educational levels face cuts, including initiatives for early childhood education, gifted programs, and assistance for student loan borrowers. Senator Jane Thompson, the leading Democrat on the education committee, remarked, “This budget would undermine communities by eliminating funding for after-school programs, aid for struggling college students, training programs for teachers, and even Special Olympics education initiatives.”
Randi Johnson, president of the National Teachers Union, expressed her concerns on social media, highlighting the impact on critical education initiatives.
- Student Loan Forgiveness Programs: The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which previously granted loan forgiveness to graduates working in public service, is set for elimination.
- After-School and Summer Programs: Funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, serving nearly 2 million disadvantaged students, will be cut.
- Federal College Work-Study: The budget proposes a 50% reduction in funding for the work-study program that currently helps 670,000 college students gain financial assistance through employment.
- Pell Grant Recipients: While the Pell Grant program will not be entirely eliminated, it faces a nearly $4 billion budget cut. Another crucial aid program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, will be completely discontinued.
- Teacher Training: Funding for Supporting Effective Instruction grants, which support teacher training, is slated for elimination.
A range of other essential programs will also face severe reductions or outright eliminations, including arts education, services for high-need native populations, gifted education, adult literacy, and childcare assistance for low-income college parents.
Secretary DeVos is scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. As noted by the Los Angeles Times, this budget may face significant political challenges: “Cutting aid to public schools to promote vouchers could particularly alienate Trump’s voter base in rural areas, which heavily depend on public education due to a lack of private schooling options.”
With the numerous scandals surrounding this administration, it’s easy to lose sight of its policy objectives, particularly their drive towards education privatization. It is crucial to not merely hope your representatives will reject this budget but to actively express your opinions on this matter. For additional insights on related topics, visit our other blog post here.
Summary
The proposed education budget by Betsy DeVos significantly reduces funding for public education while increasing allocations for school choice initiatives. This shift threatens critical support for vulnerable student populations and essential educational programs, raising concerns about the long-term impact on future generations. Stakeholders are urged to advocate against these budget cuts.