The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington is pictured on November 18, 2024. Reports indicate that President Donald Trump plans to shut down the federal agency. (AP)Alabama schools and colleges are bracing for potential effects if President Trump moves forward with plans to close the U.S. Department of Education.
Reports suggest that Trump is poised to sign an executive order as early as Thursday, instructing his newly confirmed Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to close the department. This action would transfer all federal regulations, programs, and funding currently overseen by the Department of Education to another agency.
Alabama receives approximately $2.6 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Education for K-12 schools and colleges, according to an AL.com analysis of the latest federal data.
Regardless of the outcome, state leaders are advising schools and colleges to prepare for potential changes.
“In the short term, I urge all those currently supported by the Department of Education’s funding and services to prepare for disruption,” Jim Purcell, of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, told AL.com on Thursday. He expressed his belief that the department’s dissolution is likely.
That funding is currently mandated by Congress, and if the U.S. Department of Education is closed, another agency would take over the responsibility of distributing those funds. The Education Department also plays a crucial regulatory role in services for students, including those with disabilities, low-income students, and homeless children.
"The most concerning scenario would be one where the regulations remain in place with reduced funding," said State Superintendent Eric Mackey in a statement. "So far, we have no indication that might be the case. Nevertheless, we are closely monitoring developments.
How much federal funding do Alabama schools and colleges get?Public colleges and universities in Alabama are the most reliant on federal funds, with approximately a quarter of their revenue—$1.98 billion—coming from government grants and contracts in fiscal year 2023.
In the 2021-22 academic year, Alabama colleges received the 10th highest allocation of federal funds in the country, according to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics.
(If you're unable to see the chart, it may be helpful to check the source or visit the study directly for more detailed information.) View it here.)
Allocations to Alabama public colleges, FY2023
Federal funds make up about 24% of funding for Alabama's two- and four-year public colleges.
In Alabama’s K-12 schools, federal funding made up about $615 million, or 9% of the total $6.7 billion allocated in fiscal year 2024.
Funding levels vary significantly based on the missions, locations, and student populations of different institutions.
Community colleges generally depend the most on federal funds, with some receiving more than half of their revenue from the federal government.
In K-12 education, rural, high-poverty districts like Perry County can receive as much as $8,000 per pupil in federal funds, while wealthier districts like Mountain Brook and Orange Beach spend under $1,000 per pupil.
Allocations to Alabama K-12 schools, FY2024
Federal funds make up about 9% of funding in K-12 schools.
What will happen to programs for high-poverty schools, special education?In conversations with state and federal officials, Mackey stated that leaders are committed to maintaining funding for IDEA and Title I, which support special education programs and high-poverty schools. For fiscal year 2024, Alabama received $193 million in IDEA funding and $301 million in Title I funding.
State lawmakers suggested that the proposed shifts could give Alabama more control over how the funds are allocated.
"The funds will continue to come; it's just that we would have more flexibility," said Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, in a February interview. "The money’s not going to go away."
Meanwhile, Mackey emphasized that his focus will remain on improving reading and math outcomes, as well as boosting graduation rates. The state has invested record amounts into reading and math reforms and is currently working to redesign its school funding model to better support students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income students.
As we focus on these core issues, we do rely heavily on federal funding to maintain specialized supports in our schools, particularly for special education, Title I, required assessments, English Language Learners, and child nutrition," Mackey said. "Our schools depend on these funds, and as long as the funds continue to be available, we would welcome less federal regulation and burdensome paperwork."
State support for higher education has declined over the years, making Alabama one of the most expensive states to attend college, according to recent reports. Purcell noted that state officials must work to reduce institutions' dependence on federal funds.
Federal support for K-12 schools and colleges existed before the creation of the Department of Education in 1979, and Purcell expects that many of its programs, such as student financial aid, will continue in some form.
The biggest impact, Purcell said, could come from non-department contracts, such as those through the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Some estimates suggest Alabama could lose up to $46 million in indirect support from NIH for research initiatives due to recent rate cuts.
The Trump Administration has already eliminated thousands of federal positions, including those at the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which collects data on academic progress.
“The effort to cut the National Center for Education Statistics is also a major concern,” Purcell added. “Data collected from colleges and universities is essential for campuses and state leaders to manage and plan higher education initiatives effectively.
Can Trump close the Department of Education?
A draft of the executive order, circulated on Wednesday, acknowledges that the president cannot unilaterally close the Department of Education, according to The Washington Post. Closing the department would require an act of Congress and 60 "yes" votes in the Senate, a challenging hurdle given that Republicans hold only 53 seats.That would require 60 votes in the Senate and a majority in the House, and we haven’t heard any indication that Congress is willing to do that and completely reorganize the cabinet,” Mackey told reporters in February.
Instead, the draft executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps" to facilitate the closure of the department “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”
Officials, including McMahon, have suggested that this could involve shifting some of the agency's functions to other parts of the government. However, this would also face legal challenges, as many of the department’s key programs are legally assigned to the Education Department.
A more likely scenario is the continuation of ongoing efforts within the department: significant cuts to staff, programs, and grants. The department has already warned of a "very significant" reduction in force in the short term.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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