As the Trump administration grapples with numerous controversies, one federal department is moving ahead with a clear agenda. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, a staunch proponent of school vouchers, has consistently expressed her disdain for public education while championing educational privatization. Now, she’s taking significant steps to fulfill her pledge to diminish public education funding, minimize the federal government’s role in schools, and enhance school choice.
Recently, President Trump and Secretary DeVos unveiled next year’s alarming education budget. This proposal slashes $10.6 billion from education initiatives that primarily support the most vulnerable students—representing a staggering 13.6% cut to the total budget. In a twist, $1.4 billion of those funds are redirected towards school choice programs.
A significant portion of this funding, approximately $1 billion, would be taken from Title I resources—money allocated to states for the education of low-income children—and instead funneled into the new Furthering Options for Children to Unlock Success (FOCUS) grant program. This program will only benefit school districts that offer school choice options. The Center for American Progress has characterized these maneuvers as “Robin Hood in reverse,” diverting essential resources away from impoverished districts towards wealthier ones.
Who Stands to Gain?
- School Vouchers: The budget proposes additional funding to expand and evaluate voucher programs that enable low-income students to attend private or religious schools.
- Charter Schools: An increase of $500 million—50% more than current allocations—would be directed to charter schools.
- DeVos’s Security: The budget includes a request for an additional $158 million for staff salaries, despite an overall reduction in the Department of Education’s workforce. While past secretaries have utilized the department’s security detail, Secretary DeVos is currently under the protection of U.S. Marshals, costing the department an extra $1 million monthly.
Who Will Suffer?
Programs designed to assist students at every educational level are facing significant cuts, including those for early childhood education, gifted programs, and loan borrowers. Senator Emily Graham, a leading Democrat on the education committee, emphasized that “This budget would undermine communities by eliminating vital funding for after-school programs, college aid for struggling students, and teacher training initiatives.”
- Student Loan Forgiveness: The budget targets the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which allows graduates in public service or nonprofit roles to have their student loans forgiven after a decade of employment.
- After-School Programs: Funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which serve nearly 2 million low-income students, will be reduced.
- Federal Work-Study: The budget proposes a 50% cut to the federal work-study program, jeopardizing financial aid for 670,000 college students.
- Pell Grant Recipients: While the largest federal grant program for families earning under $40,000 won’t be entirely eliminated, it will face nearly a $4 billion reduction. Additionally, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program would see its budget of $732 million completely cut.
Further cuts would also impact numerous other essential programs, including arts education, initiatives for high-need Native American children, gifted education, and even adult literacy programs.
As Secretary DeVos prepares to testify before the House Appropriations Committee, the Los Angeles Times highlights a politically peculiar aspect of this budget, suggesting it may not pass Congress. “Reducing aid to public schools to promote vouchers could seriously affect Trump’s voter base in rural areas, which depend heavily on public education.”
In this era of constant distractions from administration scandals, it’s crucial to remain focused on policy agendas, particularly those aiming to privatize education. Don’t just hope for your representative to act against this budget; take the initiative to voice your concerns.
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Summary
Betsy DeVos’s latest education budget represents a significant shift in funding away from public education towards programs that promote school choice, particularly benefiting charter and private schools. The cuts will adversely affect a wide array of educational programs aimed at supporting disadvantaged students and communities. It’s essential for concerned citizens to voice their opinions and stay informed about the implications of these policy changes.