Local Leaders Speak Out: What the Possible Elimination of the U.S. Department of Education Means for Our Communities

ROCHESTER — There’s a lot of talk lately about what might happen to the U.S. Department of Education. Local leaders and state lawmakers in Minnesota are worried about how this could affect schools.

President Donald Trump might announce his plans for the department soon. There’s uncertainty around how much he can do on his own, which has fueled many reactions across the state.

Minnesota Education Commissioner Willie Jett shared his worries in a recent newsletter. He noted that many are anxious about the potential cuts to funding and programs that support our schools.

According to The 74, a publication focused on education issues, completely dismantling the Department of Education would require strong support from Congress, which isn’t so easy to achieve.

In response, the Rochester Education Association and Education Minnesota have been urging their members to communicate with their representatives in Washington. They want to make sure voices from the local schools are heard.

A recent social media post from the REA called for action, stating, “Let’s do more than get angry or frustrated. It’s time to let the people that represent us in D.C. know that we need them to take a stand.”

Even if Congress doesn’t approve changes, the executive branch could still make significant cuts or changes to existing programs. This has raised alarms among educators like Belinda Selfors, the superintendent of Stewartville Public Schools. She highlighted the unpredictability of the situation, saying the recent shifts in government are worrying.

Selfors expressed concern that the cutting of federal funds could severely impact special education programming. Currently, state and federal funds don’t cover all the needs in this area, forcing districts to dip into their general budgets to make up the difference.

In Rochester Public Schools, federal funding forms a small but vital part of the budget, accounting for 4% of the upcoming 2024-25 budget. This amounts to about $18.4 million, including $3.1 million for Title I, which helps students from low-income families, and $3.2 million for special education.

On a larger scale, federal funding contributes 10% of Minnesota’s education budget, totaling over $1 billion. This funding is crucial for various programs, including food services, which in Rochester receive $6.79 million from the Department of Agriculture.

The Minnesota Senate has also been discussing the potential impacts of any changes to the U.S. Department of Education. Some senators see it as a distraction from larger issues within the state education system, while others believe we should be deeply concerned.

Sen. Robert Farnsworth described the focus on the federal department as a “distraction” from state mandates that have burdened school districts, while Sen. Eric Lucero claimed we need real reform rather than “tinkering around the edges.”

Conversely, Mary Kunesh, chair of the Senate Education Finance Committee, urged others to take the situation seriously, arguing there’s no benefit to instability. Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the critical role the federal department plays in supporting education research, especially as schools work to recover from dips in student performance since the pandemic.

Pekel pointed out that most quality education research is funded by the Institute for Education Sciences within the U.S. Department of Education. He called it a potential disaster to undermine federal support, particularly when student achievement levels are still recovering.