As President Donald Trump plans to dismantle the Department of Education via an executive order, states are preparing for potential funding cuts to their K-12 schools.
The federal government appropriates funds through Congress that are then administered by the Department of Education. However, the exact budgetary effects may vary significantly depending on the state and its resources for public schools.
Why It Matters
On Thursday, Trump is expected to issue an executive order to shut down the Department of Education. While the move would give states authority education, it also threatens the federal funding that many states and local school districts rely on.
The map shows which states get the most federal funding per K-12 student.
What To Know
According to White House officials, Trump’s order will likely instruct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department. However, fully closing the Department of Education would require congressional approval.
With the Education Department dismantled, states would likely lose federal funding for K-12 schools. How much each state relies on the federal government varies significantly.
According to EducationData.org, Alaska receives the most federal funding, at $4,369 per K-12 student. At the other end, Utah receives $1,311 per student, the most recent data showed.
The five states that receive the most funding per K-12 student are Alaska ($4,369), North Dakota ($3,393), Montana ($3,268), Kentucky ($3,195) and South Dakota ($3,053).
Hawaii, Mississippi, West Virginia, Wyoming and Vermont round out the top 10, suggesting rural school districts may be the most vulnerable to funding cuts if the Education Department is dismantled completely.
The headquarters of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on March 12. The headquarters of the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on March 12. Win McNamee/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “When it comes to states that receive a significant portion of their education dollars through the federal government, word of the Department of Education being abolished is undoubtedly raising concerns. States like North Dakota and Alaska that tend to have smaller state populations and some schools that serve significant numbers of students who are low income and/or have disabilities qualify for additional federal funding, funding that has become essential to operating their public schools.”
Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: “If the Department of Education were abolished, states like these would face a major funding gap. In the short term, this could force state politicians to prioritize and properly fund essential services rather than relying on federal assistance.”
He added: “These states may struggle to compete with larger, wealthier states that have better-funded school systems. Deteriorating education quality could lead to weaker workforces and economic stagnation.”
What Happens Next
Trump is expected to issue the executive order to abolish the Department of Education at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
While Republicans have previously suggested that eliminating the Department of Education would send funding back to the states, it’s unclear whether that means the schools will continue seeing the same level of K-12 funding.
Beene said, “It’s difficult to say how this will be executed and, more importantly, if the money ‘sent back’ will be equivalent to what’s needed for each state’s education system.”
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