The End of the Department of Education? What Parents and Teachers Need to Know.

Every few years, someone in Washington floats the idea of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Lately, of course, it’s been getting a lot more attention and there is a standing Executive Order about this. Every parent, teacher, and advocate starts asking the same thing: What would that actually mean for our kids, especially kids with IEPs?

Let’s break it down.

What Does the Department of Education Actually Do?

Despite what you may hear, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) doesn’t run your local school. It doesn’t write curriculum or decide what books your child reads. That’s all state and local.

What it does do is pretty important:

• Distributes federal funds (like Title I and IDEA)
• Manages federal student loans and Pell Grants
• Enforces civil rights in education (via the Office for Civil Rights)
• Provides guidance and oversight for state education agencies

And yes, it’s the agency that oversees IDEA, Section 504, and ensures FAPE is actually more than just a another acronym.

What Happens If the Department Is Eliminated?

If proposals to dismantle the ED move forward, here’s what could be affected:

• Special Education Funding: IDEA funding would likely be shifted to other agencies or get caught in budget limbo.
• Civil Rights Enforcement: Without the ED’s Office for Civil Rights, enforcement of disability, race, and gender protections in schools could be weakened.
• Accountability Gaps: Parents already fight tooth and nail to get their child’s IEP followed. Imagine doing that with no federal watchdog.
• Student Loan Chaos: Agencies unfamiliar with education would inherit massive programs like Pell Grants and student loan management. Spoiler alert: it won’t be smooth.

Can the Department Be Legally Eliminated?

Not easily. The Department of Education was created by Congress in 1979, which means it can only be eliminated by…you guessed it….Congress. Executive orders might set the stage, but any permanent change has to go through the legislative process.

That means you have a voice. And it matters.

What Parents and Teachers Can Do

1. Get Loud: Reach out to your Senators and Representatives. Tell them what the Department means to your child, your classroom, or your students.

Use language like:
“The Department of Education is essential for ensuring my child’s rights under IDEA. Please oppose any legislation that weakens or eliminates this agency.”

2. Organize and Share: Host info nights. Talk to your SEPAC. Write to your local newspaper. Post on social. These conversations matter, especially at the local level.

3. Keep Receipts: If your child has benefited from:

• State complaints
• Due process hearings
• OCR investigations
• IDEA funding for related services

Include that in your advocacy. These are the real-world impacts we need to amplify.

4. Stay Updated: Check out my resource page: Parent and Teacher Guide to Changing Special Education Advocacy and Laws in 2025. I update it regularly with the latest developments and resources.

This isn’t just about politics. It’s about the future of public education, and the rights of our kids.

If we lose the Department of Education, we lose the strongest lever we have to demand accountability from schools. The safeguards written into IDEA, Section 504, and Title IX don’t mean much if no one’s there to enforce them.

So yes, this matters. And yes, you can make a difference.