Janaki Mehta

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.

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.

So how soon will schools feel the pain of this data being gone? Yeah, I've spoken to employees at NCS who have worked on both grants for rural schools and on Title I, and they all tell me they're pretty confident districts will get the money they expect for the next school year, but they're really worried about what's going to happen after that.

So how soon will schools feel the pain of this data being gone? Yeah, I've spoken to employees at NCS who have worked on both grants for rural schools and on Title I, and they all tell me they're pretty confident districts will get the money they expect for the next school year, but they're really worried about what's going to happen after that.

So how soon will schools feel the pain of this data being gone? Yeah, I've spoken to employees at NCS who have worked on both grants for rural schools and on Title I, and they all tell me they're pretty confident districts will get the money they expect for the next school year, but they're really worried about what's going to happen after that.

Like if business was as usual, NCES staff would be hard at work right now gathering the data for the 2026-27 school year. And that is going to be a lot harder with just three employees. And I should add, Leila, NCS doesn't work alone when it comes to Title I. It works closely with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Like if business was as usual, NCES staff would be hard at work right now gathering the data for the 2026-27 school year. And that is going to be a lot harder with just three employees. And I should add, Leila, NCS doesn't work alone when it comes to Title I. It works closely with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Like if business was as usual, NCES staff would be hard at work right now gathering the data for the 2026-27 school year. And that is going to be a lot harder with just three employees. And I should add, Leila, NCS doesn't work alone when it comes to Title I. It works closely with the U.S. Census Bureau.

But we learned earlier this week that the Trump administration is starting to shrink that agency, too. And that could certainly further complicate the distribution of Title I funding. And PR education reporter Janaki Mehta.

But we learned earlier this week that the Trump administration is starting to shrink that agency, too. And that could certainly further complicate the distribution of Title I funding. And PR education reporter Janaki Mehta.

But we learned earlier this week that the Trump administration is starting to shrink that agency, too. And that could certainly further complicate the distribution of Title I funding. And PR education reporter Janaki Mehta.

Trump says he wants to return education to the states, which, by the way, is already largely the case. The federal government is responsible for about 10 percent of the money that goes to schools. The rest comes from state and local governments. Trump also said this about the layoffs.

Trump says he wants to return education to the states, which, by the way, is already largely the case. The federal government is responsible for about 10 percent of the money that goes to schools. The rest comes from state and local governments. Trump also said this about the layoffs.

But the layoffs look to be wide-ranging. The Ed Department is set to go from 4,100 to 2,200 people in the coming days. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

But the layoffs look to be wide-ranging. The Ed Department is set to go from 4,100 to 2,200 people in the coming days. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

Yeah. So the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff. And that number includes some of the people who've already taken voluntary buyouts or decided to retire.

Yeah. So the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff. And that number includes some of the people who've already taken voluntary buyouts or decided to retire.

Yeah. So the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff. And that number includes some of the people who've already taken voluntary buyouts or decided to retire.

And in that statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said these cuts reflect the department's, quote, commitment to efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most to students, parents and teachers. The announcement clearly said all divisions of the agency will be impacted.

And in that statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said these cuts reflect the department's, quote, commitment to efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most to students, parents and teachers. The announcement clearly said all divisions of the agency will be impacted.