BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Teachers and parents in Warren County Public Schools are concerned about potential cuts to critical programs after President Donald Trump signed an executive order, dismantling the Department of Education.
President Donald Trump signed the order on Thursday, March 20. The order said to “take all the necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.”
However, President of Kentucky Education Association, Eddie Campbell said an executive order can not fully eliminate the department.
“Congress created the department of education. Congress has to be in this conversation. It can’t be done by executive order alone.” Campbell said.
According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, over $1 billion of federal funding supports students in every Kentucky school district.
“This includes funding for school meals, low income students, children with disabilities,” said Brooke Vincent, a WCPS teacher.
She said Warren County gets around $12 million each year, and dismantling the department could threaten funding.
“That would be a loss of teachers, meaning larger class sizes and other targeted support that our students receive,” Vincent said.
According to the administration, the order will preserve Title 1 funding, Pell grants and programs for children with disabilities.
However, parents are still skeptical over the potential loss of Kentucky’s $182 million for IDEA Funding.
“A loss of federal funding for IDEA, which is short for individuals with disabilities education act, would be detrimental for both of my daughters,” Mary Patton, a WCPS parent, said.
Teachers are calling on Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green, to oppose the order.
“We are calling on him to publicly oppose any effort that could threaten cuts to school funding as conversations continue to move forward in Washington D.C.,” Vincent said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, has filed a bill in the house to abolish the department of education.
House Bill 899 has 32 cosponsors, all of them are republicans.
