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The potential shutdown of the U.S. Department of Education, which might occur under the leadership of President-elect Donald Trump, has been labeled as “a catastrophe” by its current head, Puerto Rican Miguel Cardona.
While visiting the island, Cardona expressed that this shutdown would primarily impact students with special needs.
“If they eliminate the federal Department, it will create challenges for the whole nation, particularly for special education students and the civil rights of students. I believe it would be catastrophic. However, what matters most to me is ensuring that students have access to the resources they require,” Cardona remarked during a press interaction at an event in San Juan.
What will become of the federal education funding designated for Puerto Rico remains uncertain.
In his campaign, Trump stated, “One of my initial actions will be to dismantle the Department of Education in Washington D.C., and revert all educational functions and requirements back to the states,” as indicated in a video shared on social media. “We want them to handle the education of our children because they will perform significantly better at it.”
Trump’s agenda also addresses concerns that conservatives have emphasized for years, vowing to “reduce federal support for any school promoting critical race theory, extreme gender ideology, and other unsuitable racial, sexual, or political material to our children.”
There are limitations on the level of influence the president or the federal government can exercise over local educational institutions.
The federal government plays an essential role in education, which encompasses safeguarding students’ civil rights, distributing Title I funding for low-income students and those with disabilities, gathering data on schools, and managing federal student loans for higher education.
