NC leaders sound the alarm on dismantling of Education Department
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North Carolina political and education leaders moved swiftly to highlight the potential repercussions of President Trump's executive order Thursday to close down the the U.S. Department of Education.
Why it matters: The unprecedented order's impact is still largely unknown, and it's not yet clear how the flow of funding would change, but in the hours after Trump signed the order, North Carolina leaders indicated that any stoppage, hiccup or slowing of federal funds to the state's public schools could be detrimental.
- "I'm very concerned — gravely concerned — about his disruption of the Department of Education," Gov. Josh Stein said Thursday during a visit to Fayetteville. He also noted it's important to ensure that the flow of funding doesn't stop.
Driving the news: Trump's order calls for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to "facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States" while ensuring the "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely."
- Shuttering a federal department requires congressional action, but Trump's administration could cut funding in the meantime.
The other side: North Carolina Republicans applauded the order and the restoring of education authority to states.
Zoom in: Federal funding pays for 14,000 teacher and education positions across the state, amounting to some 7.6% of the education workforce, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green said in a release Thursday evening.
- It also makes up for close to 11% of the state's public school budget, funding services for low-income families and students with disabilities.
- Green called the order "unsettling" but said his commitment to North Carolina's 1.5 million students remains unwavering.
The big picture: Dismantling the Department of Education has also led to big questions for student borrowers because the department plays a key role in managing some $1.5 trillion in student debt for more than 40 million borrowers.
- Around 1.3 million North Carolinians, or roughly 12% of the state, owe more than $52 billion in student loans, federal data shows.
- If the department is shuttered, duties that include managing federal student aid responsibilities would need to be shifted to another agency.
- During the transition, there could be slower processing times for loans, applications and payments and the potential for more administrative errors.
- While it's possible there could be a pause in borrowers' payments for a period, they would still eventually be due.