Dana Goldstein

So a draft executive order attempting to dismantle the Federal Department of Education has been circulating in Washington, and we have seen it. And it's no surprise to us that this draft is out there. We've been hearing for many weeks now that President Trump will sign an order like this. In fact, several times we were sort of poised watching video of him sitting at the Resolute Desk,

So a draft executive order attempting to dismantle the Federal Department of Education has been circulating in Washington, and we have seen it. And it's no surprise to us that this draft is out there. We've been hearing for many weeks now that President Trump will sign an order like this. In fact, several times we were sort of poised watching video of him sitting at the Resolute Desk,

in the Oval Office with executive orders that he was about to sign, thinking, is this the day? Is one of these pieces of paper the one that will attempt to abolish the agency? And so far, he hasn't done it. But it does seem that this is something that is in very serious consideration for him.

in the Oval Office with executive orders that he was about to sign, thinking, is this the day? Is one of these pieces of paper the one that will attempt to abolish the agency? And so far, he hasn't done it. But it does seem that this is something that is in very serious consideration for him.

Well, I think it's important to step back and understand not just what it does, but also what it doesn't do. It does not set the curriculum of local public schools or reading lists or decide how many teachers to hire or what teachers are paid or what student discipline policy should be or what standardized tests should be given. All of that is controlled by state and local governments. Right.

Well, I think it's important to step back and understand not just what it does, but also what it doesn't do. It does not set the curriculum of local public schools or reading lists or decide how many teachers to hire or what teachers are paid or what student discipline policy should be or what standardized tests should be given. All of that is controlled by state and local governments. Right.

They do not do that. In fact, 90% of the funding for local schools comes from local and state governments. And only about 10% comes from Washington and flows through the Federal Department of Education. That 10% is important because it focuses on low-income students and children with disabilities.

They do not do that. In fact, 90% of the funding for local schools comes from local and state governments. And only about 10% comes from Washington and flows through the Federal Department of Education. That 10% is important because it focuses on low-income students and children with disabilities.

And what a lot of people may not realize is that over 70% of what the Department of Education does is administer the student aid program. So grants and loans that help students pay their college tuition. And they also fund education research. So attempts to figure out what are the best ways to teach students how to read better.

And what a lot of people may not realize is that over 70% of what the Department of Education does is administer the student aid program. So grants and loans that help students pay their college tuition. And they also fund education research. So attempts to figure out what are the best ways to teach students how to read better.

They fund efforts to measure how American students are doing academically compared to students around the world. Okay, so we've got loans and research. And finally, the last thing they do is enforce anti-discrimination or civil rights laws.

They fund efforts to measure how American students are doing academically compared to students around the world. Okay, so we've got loans and research. And finally, the last thing they do is enforce anti-discrimination or civil rights laws.

So these are the laws that attempt to make sure that students are not being discriminated against based on their gender, their race, their ethnicity, their religion. So for instance, if a school is not giving Black or Hispanic students equal access to gifted programs or advanced placement classes, they might be investigated. And that is very inconvenient.

So these are the laws that attempt to make sure that students are not being discriminated against based on their gender, their race, their ethnicity, their religion. So for instance, if a school is not giving Black or Hispanic students equal access to gifted programs or advanced placement classes, they might be investigated. And that is very inconvenient.

It is a pretty big deal for any school system. And they would essentially be pressured into changing these practices.

It is a pretty big deal for any school system. And they would essentially be pressured into changing these practices.

Well, not really. I think we have to say, first of all, that only Congress can vote to abolish a cabinet agency. So President Trump, by signing an order like this, does not have the ability to abolish the Department of Education. But even if he somehow was able to abolish the department, it's not like all of these functions I just laid out would suddenly cease to exist.

Well, not really. I think we have to say, first of all, that only Congress can vote to abolish a cabinet agency. So President Trump, by signing an order like this, does not have the ability to abolish the Department of Education. But even if he somehow was able to abolish the department, it's not like all of these functions I just laid out would suddenly cease to exist.

One way to think of the Department of Education is that it's like a bucket. And inside of it are all these programs and money that are appropriated and created by Congress. So if you do get rid of this bucket, you still have to deal with all the contents of the bucket.

One way to think of the Department of Education is that it's like a bucket. And inside of it are all these programs and money that are appropriated and created by Congress. So if you do get rid of this bucket, you still have to deal with all the contents of the bucket.