(WWJ) The future of the US Department of Education is uncertain, after President-elect Donald Trump ran on a promise to eliminate the department.
Thomas Morgan, spokesperson for the Michigan Education Association, said such a move at the federal level would have wide-ranging ramifications for Michigan students.
"The US Department of Education provides critical services to Michigan, especially when it comes to providing educational opportunities for students with learning disabilities, as well as students in low income areas, rural areas and urban areas in particular," Morgan said, in an interview with WWJ Newsradio 950's Dan Jenkins.
Last year, Morgan said, Michigan received over $450 million through the US Department of Education to help support special education programs for kids who need extra help.
That's about 15% of our total state expenditure on special education.
"So, if the US Department of Education were to be eliminated, we would be leaving kids with special needs to fend for themselves, essentially," Morgan said. "We would be leaving students in rural and urban districts without the resources they need."
"So, you know, this would devastate students across the state in suburban schools and urban schools and in rural schools."
Morgan said the US Department of Education also oversees standards that help parents ensure that their services for their child are guaranteed.
"And so if you get rid of the Department of Education, as has been proposed, those standards would go away, and it would be much more difficult for parents to be able to navigate the system and get the services that their children need to succeed," Morgan said.
Outside of funding and standards for schools, Morgan said the US Education Department oversees programs such as Title 9 -- a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings -- as well as Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
"So, if you get rid of the Department of Education, you are going to see a lot of school districts that all of a sudden won't need to or won't be required to,, fund girl sports," Morgan said. "You'll see lots of anti discrimination standards go away and you'll see more kids who are minorities who would be targeted."
On the other side of the issue stands Trump, who said it's his plan to remain maybe two out of a few thousand federal education employees.
Speaking on the topic at Michigan rally last month, Trump said he wants to return control of public schools to the states.
"We're gonna let the great state of Michigan run your education," Trump said. "We're gonna let Iowa run its education. We're gonna let Idaho run their education. We're gonna let Florida run their...," he trailed off, to cheers from the crowd.
While he did not detail exactly why or how, Trump predicted that his plan would result in students in many states doing much better, competing with world-leaders in education such as Norway, Denmark and other countries "who do very well."
"California will have a problem," Trump opined. "We'll help 'em out a little bit, but they're gonna have to run their own education."
"I think we're gonna soar," Trump said. "And, you know, you can do it for about half the cost, too."
The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979, under President Jimmy Carter, to coordinate and oversee the nation's education system.
Among other things, the department — with a current workforce of over 4,000 employees — creates policy for education, develops and enforces federal education laws, provides funding for schools, administers federal assistance programs, administers federal student aid programs, collects data on US education, and works to ensure that all students have access to education.
On Friday, the Michigan Department of Education told WWJ it would not comment on Trump's proposal.