ORLANDO, Fla. — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dissolve the Department of Education and give the power back to the states. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dissolve the Department of Education

  • Funding and support from the U.S. Department of Education in Florida included critical annual K-12 funding to meet the needs of 4,200 K-12 schools and over three million K-12 students

  • The Department of Education was created in 1979

  • Local teachers and the teachers' union president of Volusia County shared their reactions to the move

Funding and support from the U.S. Department of Education in Florida included critical annual K-12 funding to meet the needs of 4,200 K-12 schools and over three million K-12 students.

The Department of Education, which was created in 1979, provided over $858 million in annual funding for students with disabilities, $1 billion for students from low-income background, and $57 million for English learners in K-12 public schools in Florida, according to data from the Department of Education.

“Parents and communities rely on our public schools to ensure that children receive a high-quality education. So, any statement that would dismantle or eliminate the Department of Education is extremely troubling,” said Elizabeth Albert, President of Volusia United Educators.

She said this decision would have a big impact on public schools, hitting programs like free and reduced lunch, mentorship and jobs training, help for students with disabilities and low-income students.

“And so, our teachers depend on it. The entire school district actually depends on that money so that we can provide the highest quality education for all children. Every child in public schools benefits from the funding that comes down from the Department of Education,” Albert said.

But not everyone sees it that way. Orange County Middle School Teacher Robert Prater says he believes the dissolution of the department could be beneficial, leaving it up to the states to make decisions regarding funding.   

“We have, as I say many times, a melting pot here from, you know, Michigan, Ohio, New York, so many different cultures and families that come from different backgrounds. Well, we have, you know, we know what we need in this state for our education programs,” Prater said.

Prater says this decision will have no impact on his teaching nor on the curriculum or in the decision-making process. “I haven't lost any sleep over it, so I don't think any other teachers really should,” he said.

However, for college students, it would have more of an impact with the Department of Education providing $2.2 billion in Pell Grants to Florida students. “I'm sure the college students are a little concerned,” Prater said.

This executive order would still need to be approved by Congress to go into effect.