Rethinking Education in Chicago: The Push to Eliminate the Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education came into existence in 1979, thanks to President Jimmy Carter. It was formed to oversee education at a federal level. Recently, there have been strong calls for this department to be dissolved, especially under the Trump administration.

President Trump has been one of the most vocal proponents of shutting it down. He even advised his Education Secretary Designate, Linda McMahon, to “put herself out of a job.”

However, not everyone agrees with this view. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker warned that removing the department would severely harm schools across the state. He emphasized that a significant amount of funding, billions of dollars, comes from the federal level. In recent data, Illinois received about $4.5 billion, with over a billion allocated to public schools in Chicago alone. Erica Meltzer, national editor at Chalkbeat, noted that other Republican states might face even greater impact than Illinois.

This situation raises an interesting question: why aren’t more Republican lawmakers challenging the move to eliminate the Department of Education? Meltzer pointed out that some programs, like Title I, existed before the department was established. Many Republican governors believe they could still secure similar funds with less bureaucracy if the department were gone, possibly receiving funds as block grants to direct as they see fit.

So, what exactly does the Department of Education do? Meltzer explained that it manages a variety of programs. It distributes Title I funds to high-poverty schools and provides resources for homeless students and those learning English. The department also supports community schools, runs the student loan program, and acts as a hub for education research and best practices.

If the department were abolished, there would need to be a new system to distribute these funds. Meltzer mentioned that Congress would have to step in to determine who gets Title I funding. While some responsibilities could shift to other federal agencies, there’s a concern that those managing the funds may lack the necessary education experience. This could lead to a distribution process that doesn’t benefit schools as effectively as it does now.