Janaki Mehta

No, that actually requires an act of Congress. The action essentially tells the Secretary of Education to take all steps towards eliminating the department to the maximum extent possible under the law. And like I said, it does require Congress. Well, we've already seen the Trump administration move towards that goal by cutting the department workforce nearly in half.

Many of the department's employees are going to have their last day today before being put on administrative leave.

Many of the department's employees are going to have their last day today before being put on administrative leave.

Many of the department's employees are going to have their last day today before being put on administrative leave.

Yeah, so the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, has been the central source of data about education in the U.S. for more than 150 years. At the start of this year, more than 100 people were working there, and after today, just three NCES staff will remain. That's according to multiple employees at NCES and an internal email we reviewed.

Yeah, so the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, has been the central source of data about education in the U.S. for more than 150 years. At the start of this year, more than 100 people were working there, and after today, just three NCES staff will remain. That's according to multiple employees at NCES and an internal email we reviewed.

Yeah, so the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, has been the central source of data about education in the U.S. for more than 150 years. At the start of this year, more than 100 people were working there, and after today, just three NCES staff will remain. That's according to multiple employees at NCES and an internal email we reviewed.

And nearly all the data experts responsible for determining whether schools qualify for certain federal grants will soon be out of jobs. So this data agency being eliminated, what does it mean for schools?

And nearly all the data experts responsible for determining whether schools qualify for certain federal grants will soon be out of jobs. So this data agency being eliminated, what does it mean for schools?

And nearly all the data experts responsible for determining whether schools qualify for certain federal grants will soon be out of jobs. So this data agency being eliminated, what does it mean for schools?

So part of what NCES works on are known as formula grants for schools, things like Title I, which goes to low-income schools, and also funding for rural schools through the Rural Education Achievement Program. Those are just two examples, but if there aren't data people crunching these numbers, employees tell us it's going to be really hard for schools to get that money.

So part of what NCES works on are known as formula grants for schools, things like Title I, which goes to low-income schools, and also funding for rural schools through the Rural Education Achievement Program. Those are just two examples, but if there aren't data people crunching these numbers, employees tell us it's going to be really hard for schools to get that money.

So part of what NCES works on are known as formula grants for schools, things like Title I, which goes to low-income schools, and also funding for rural schools through the Rural Education Achievement Program. Those are just two examples, but if there aren't data people crunching these numbers, employees tell us it's going to be really hard for schools to get that money.

I talked to Amy Price-Azano, who leads the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech, and she said, It's important to remember the students on the other side of this money.

I talked to Amy Price-Azano, who leads the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech, and she said, It's important to remember the students on the other side of this money.

I talked to Amy Price-Azano, who leads the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech, and she said, It's important to remember the students on the other side of this money.

And I should say we did reach out to the ed department for comment on all of this, and they did not reply. What kind of things do schools use that money for? Yeah. So formula grants are actually really flexible. Once states and districts get these grants from the ed department, they primarily get to choose what to do with it.

And I should say we did reach out to the ed department for comment on all of this, and they did not reply. What kind of things do schools use that money for? Yeah. So formula grants are actually really flexible. Once states and districts get these grants from the ed department, they primarily get to choose what to do with it.

And I should say we did reach out to the ed department for comment on all of this, and they did not reply. What kind of things do schools use that money for? Yeah. So formula grants are actually really flexible. Once states and districts get these grants from the ed department, they primarily get to choose what to do with it.

Like Title I or rural school grants could be used to pay school staff salaries, transportation costs, technology, really the nuts and bolts of what makes a school a school. And that's part of why programs like Title I or these rural school grants are such bipartisan golden children. They let local leaders do what best serves the unique needs of their students.