Ohio educators are concerned about the potential impact on federal funds that school districts throughout the state depend on as President Donald Trump continues to discuss abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.
Trump recently instructed Linda McMahon, his choice for education secretary, to resign from her position, and he has the authority to execute an executive order that targets the department.Trump cannot, however, abolish a government agency without the consent of Congress.
Education groups in Ohio claimed that Trump’s actions would disproportionately harm the state’s most vulnerable students.
Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, stated that kids with disabilities and those living in poverty are particularly at danger of not receiving the assistance they require to thrive.
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What is taught in schools is not predetermined by the government department. Rather, local school boards approve the curriculum and the state sets the learning criteria.
According to DiMauro, school districts in Ohio typically receive around 10% of their total revenue from the federal government.The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce estimates that during the 2023–24 school year, around 90% of Ohio children attended public school.
According to DiMauros, districts with a greater proportion of impoverished children rely even more on federal assistance. Therefore, we may observe that those percentages are 20% to 25% or even more in urban, rural, and higher poverty areas.
“If the department was abolished, it’s unclear what would happen to all that funding,” DiMauro added.
Title I grants, which are federal funds awarded to school districts having a high proportion of low-income pupils, are distributed by the department.
“Almost every district in the state receives Title I dollars,” DiMauros stated. In Ohio, Title I support directly benefits more than 808,000 kids.
Educator Larry Carey of Central Ohio pointed out the damage that would result from removing the monies.
According to Carey, these tools assist schools in addressing learning gaps, offering interventions, and establishing inclusive, secure spaces. Our most vulnerable students’ futures are in jeopardy without them.
A free public education for children with disabilities is guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is also administered by the department.
According to Carey, if these safeguards were removed, children who most need them would be deprived of essential care.
Special education coordinator Traci Arway of Columbus City Schools is especially concerned about the implications of this for financing education for people with disabilities.
“It’s really frightening,” she remarked.What effect would that have on all of the service providers and workers like me, who receive some of their pay from IDEA money in order to deliver services?
The Ohio education department estimates that during the 2023–24 school year, 16% of pupils in Ohio’s public schools have a disability.
According to Arway, there would be fewer wraparound services like reading and math coaches as well as fewer student support employees if the federal education department were abolished.
“I’m concerned about our career,” she remarked. We are working to get our nation’s workforce ready for the future.The pupils shouldn’t have to endure that, so it is difficult to come in every day and hide the frustrations.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for McMahon last week after Trump nominated her as education secretary on November 19. On Thursday, the committee will vote on whether to forward the nominee to the entire Senate.
McMahon’s tenure as World Wrestling Entertainment’s CEO is what made her most famous. She spent almost a year on Connecticut’s State Board of Education more than ten years ago and oversaw the U.S. Small Business Administration for roughly two years during Trump’s first term.
“It’s kind of like déjà vu all over again,” DiMauro remarked. Having someone who understands what it’s like to manage a school, lead an education program, or deal with students in the classroom is crucial, in my opinion. That simply isn’t available here.
During his first term in office, Trump chose Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, even though she had no prior education-related professional experience.
“With Betsy DeVos, the bar was set pretty low, and McMahon just goes right under it,” Arway stated.How could the bar get any lower?
Follow Megan Henry, a reporter with the Capital Journal, on Bluesky.
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