WASHINGTON (AP) – A sweeping reorganization of federal education programs, shifting the $18 billion Title I grant program from the Department of Education to the Department of Labour, is sparking widespread concern among school districts adn education advocates who fear disruption to vital services for millions of students. The move, announced by acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, is slated to impact 26 million students in low-income areas.
The transfer represents a significant dismantling of the Education Department’s structure, reversing a decades-long trend of consolidating federal education initiatives. Established in 1979 to address fragmented policies, the department now faces a major restructuring that critics argue will create new administrative hurdles and uncertainty for schools already grappling wiht pandemic-related learning loss and increasing student needs.
Title I funding is crucial for schools serving large populations of students from low-income families, providing resources for academic support, tutoring, and other essential services. Angela Hanks, who previously led the Labor office under the Biden management, warned the shift could “unleash chaos on school districts, and ultimately, on our kids,” given the Labor Department currently manages grants serving only 130,000 people annually.
In Salem, Massachusetts, Superintendent Stephen Zrike expressed apprehension about potential changes to program requirements. The district receives approximately $6 million in federal funding supporting students who are low-income, homeless, or still mastering English. “We don’t know what other stipulations will be attached to the funding,” Zrike said. “The level of uncertainty is enormous.”
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, urged acting secretary McMahon to reconsider the plan, citing the original intent of the 1979 law that created the Education Department to resolve “fragmented, duplicative, and frequently enough inconsistent Federal policies relating to education.”
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