Nebraska organizations react to order aiming to dismantle the US Department of Education

Several state organizations are keeping an eye on potential impacts after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

The order was signed last week, but it would take an act of Congress to officially eliminate the department.

Tim Royers, Nebraska State Education Association president, said he’s concerned how schools will be held accountable. He cited federal investigations of Nebraska schools in the past decade that ensured better services for students who are deaf as well as equal sports facilities for boys and girls.

“The biggest concern that I have is public education is supposed to be the great equalizer in this country that ensures that every kid has a fair shot at life,” Royers said. “That, to me, is the thing that's going to be jeopardized.”

Royers said the teacher’s union has been discussing the importance of the U.S. Department of Education with Nebraska's delegates.

“Our priority is making sure our members of Congress understand why the federal Department of Education is important, why it protects kids and why we can't do at the state level what it does in meeting its mission of serving students,” Royers said.

Royers added that the teacher’s union already had a productive conversation with U.S. Representative Mike Flood about the impact of losing the federal department.

The Nebraska Department of Education sent a letter to schools after the executive order was signed, saying officials are continuing work as usual and will wait for further guidance. NDE Commissioner Brian Maher wrote that the state “will not panic.”

NDE Letter to Schools

The U.S. Department of Education provides services for students with disabilities. Trump said those services will be moved to the Department of Health and Human services, although the law outlining those services — the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — outlines the secretary of education must distribute those funds.

While that funding is still intact, advocates have shared concerns how dismantling the department will impact the implementation of those services.

A Disability Rights Nebraska spokesperson said in a statement that the organization is continuing to help families of students with disabilities and is monitoring the impact of the federal department closing.

“We do not know for sure what the full impact of this action will be; however, we are especially concerned about the potential for delays or reduced funding and the impact it could have on staffing and support for students with disabilities,” the statement said. “It is paramount to the development of a child with a disability to be included in their regular classroom and be able to interact with their peers and learn to navigate public life so they can go on to live in the community successfully as adults.”