ORLANDO, Fla. — Spectrum News is learning new details about the future of the education department and who will take over some critical functions.
One day after signing an executive order, President Donald Trump announced the Small Business Administration will handle the federal student loan program and the Department of Health and Human Services will now oversee special needs and nutrition program.
The Department of Education administers funding for Title 1, including low-income students in schools, as well as students with disabilities.
President Trump said the education department will preserve its responsibilities for Title 1 funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and children with disabilities, but there are still some concerns at the local level.
Spectrum News spoke with one teacher and a school board member, as we continue to learn new details.
Bobby Agagnina has been a teacher at Lake Howell High School in Seminole County for 15 years. He was featured as a Spectrum News 13 A+ Teacher in 2019 back when he taught English.
Now, he’s a special education teacher. He says he has concerns about Thursday’s executive order to dismantle the education department.
“Because a lot of our funding for our vulnerable populations comes from the Department of Education, so now the state’s going to have to pick up the tab. And the state has never funded us properly in the first place,” said Agagnina.
He says vulnerable populations include students in Title 1 schools, along with students with disabilities and ESOL/English learner programs. Agagnina says he’s trying to be optimistic as some of the responsibilities will shift from the federal level to the state level.
“What if the state can’t support that? They would turn to the federal government and there’s no one to go to,” he said.
Stephanie Vanos, school board member for Orange County Public Schools, agrees right now there’s a lot of uncertainty.
“I have heard from parents, and I have heard from community members that care about public education, and we already are in a state that does not fund our public education system enough. So, they’re very worried about this additional impact to our public schools, just not knowing what’s going to happen,” she said.
Vanos says OCPS funding in Florida comes from state and local sources.
Federal funding coming from the Department Of Education is between 12-15% of OCPS’ overall budget every year.
“All of these funds I think are going to be at issue, in terms of is the funding still there, how will it be administered,” she said.
Agagnina says in a time of uncertainty, it’s important to focus on students.
“That’s the most important part of the job, so that’s where I’m going to keep my focus and optimism, is right at the student,” he said.
Spectrum News reached out to several county public schools.
Lake County Public Schools told Spectrum News that in fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, it received $64M from DOE.
Total federal awards that year include $94M.
LCPS says the overall budget last fiscal year was about $535M. DOE’s $64M addition, was about 12% of their budget.
